Don't do DOS without it: Norton Desktop for DOS - Symantec Corp.'s file management software - Software Review - Reviews - Evaluation

Home Office Computing, March, 1993 by Jack Nimersheim

Norton Desktop for DOS Rating: *** 1/2 For DOS

AT A GLANCE: Menu-driven file manager (plus a whole lot more) that brings DOS a little closer to Windows, without the excessive hardware demands.

DOCUMENTATION: Two full-size manuals and two supplemental booklets clearly explain the program's impressive range of features; comprehensive index makes information easy to find; context-sensitive help, organized by program command, is always a keystroke away.

EASE OF USE: Extensive menu structure requires some effort to master, but it beats the heck out of that old DOS C: prompt.

SUPPORT: Symantec offers top-notch technical support; the proper way to access this support, however, is not easily found.

VERSION REVIEWED: 1.0

LIST PRICE: $179

AVERAGE STREET PRICE: $150

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: 512K 8086 PC or higher; hard-disk drive; CGA, EGA, VGA, SVGA, Hercules; DOS 3.1 or higher

PUBLISHER: Symantec Corp., 10201 Torre Ave., Cupertino, CA 95014; (408) 252-3570, (800) 441-7234

Let's face it: For at least the next couple of years, not everyone will be using Windows, the current darling of PC operating environments. Many people either lack the equipment Windows requires or, being perfectly satisfied with DOS-based programs they've used for years, perceive no logical reason to switch to all new software just to give a new look to their familiar tasks.

Even DOS diehards, however, must admit that few things in life are as ambiguous as the infamous C> system prompt. Norton Desktop for DOS (NDD) endows your PC with a Windows-like look and feel, without sacrificing the lean-and-mean performance people expect from nongraphical applications.

Maximized menu. NDD superimposes a multilevel menu structure over DOS. Select the disk option and you'll see a pull-down menu listing nearly all disk-related operations, saving you the trouble of having to remember a multitude of cryptic DOS commands. Formatting, labeling, copying; they're all there, a mouse click or keyboard command away.

Many operations don't even require accessing menu options. It's possible, for example, to display directories in cascading windows a la Windows. With this feature, you can copy or move files by simply using a mouse to drag a file name from one directory window to another. The ability to reposition and resize directory windows lets you set up a display ideally suited to the types of tasks you want to perform.

Bag of tricks. NDD offers more than mere command simplification. The package includes a cornucopia of useful tools and utilities. Its calculator, calendar, and scheduler add numeric computation and coordination to your PC capabilities. SmartCan, UnErase, and UnFormat, all terminate-and-stay-resident (TSR) utilities, help guarantee that you'll never again accidentally lose data through an ill-timed delete or format command. By automating correspondence over MCI Mail, Norton Mail puts you in touch with the outside world, while Norton AntiVirus protects your PC from potentially destructive outside influences. As icing on the cake, Symantec throws in the popular Norton Backup program and Norton Disk Doctor, a collection of system-information and file-recovery utilities culled from the company's best-selling Norton Utilities.

Just like fine wine. Although impressive straight out of the box, NDD actually increases in value over time because it can be customized to reflect your needs and work habits. Virtually every aspect of the program, from its top-level menus to its file-manager display, can be modified easily. It even offers quick access to a "naked" system prompt, for DOS diehards.

So, what sacrifices must you make for all this convenience? Surprisingly few. The core Desktop for DOS program--that is, its menu-driven file-management shell-consumes a mere 4.5K of memory. RAM requirements increase as you incorporate additional Desktop TSRs (AntiVirus, SmartCan, and so forth) into your environment, but almost every program and utility returns valuein excess of its memory demands.

Simple setup. Installing NDD is a breeze. The program ships on seven 3'5inch disks and can require up to 8MB of disk space, depending on how many and which of its modules you choose to use. Getting everything installed takes a while, but explicit instructions make the process relatively painless. If problems arise, however, don't be surprised if a support number is nowhere to be found. Here's a tip: Check out the back of the Desktop for DOS User's Manual, after the index, under Customer Support.

Once you are up and running, Symantec's typically comprehensive documentation-two full-size manuals and a pair of quick-start booklets--greatly simplifies the process of mastering the program's copious capabilities. A well-organized help system places on-line assistance at your fingertips. Command help is also context-sensitive. An index lets you quickly find help on general concepts and other procedures. It's all very intuitive, extremely straightforward, and can be helpful as heck when you're first learning (or need to be reminded of) all of the nuances found in this feature-laden package.

MS-DOS has been on the receiving end of some pretty bad raps down through the years. "It's obtuse," many people say. "How are you supposed to know what to do at the system prompt?" others ask. NDD eliminates these common complaints about the operating system everyone loves to hate and throws in a plethora of pleasing utilities to boot.