Online Connection

Shop Around

Matthew Jones


Although you may enjoy giving gifts, you probably dread the idea of braving the crowds at your local mall during the upcoming holiday season. To avoid fighting for a parking place, trudging from store to store on aching feet, and waiting in line at the checkout counter, you can purchase computer products over the Internet. You can find the perfect gift for an experienced user, or you can get a novice user started.

This article focuses on World-Wide Web sites that offer various types of hardware, from complete desktop systems to new components such as modems and video boards. The next installment of "Online Connection" will feature sites that allow you to purchase software online. You can get also gift ideas by checking out this month's games and new products. (See "Product Snapshots.")

INTERNET SITES

The Internet Shopping Network (http://www.internet.net) calls itself "Your Computer Superstore" for good reason: Not only does this site offer competitive prices, but it also features thousands of products in every hardware category, from Notebook Computers to Printers. Although the Internet Shopping Network's regular prices are excellent, you can find the best bargains in the Hot Deals Central section, and you can view a list of special manufacturers' offers in the Specials & Rebates section. In addition, you can search for detailed product information, and you can read online articles about various hardware-related topics, such as how to install a CD-ROM drive and how to choose a network interface board that meets your needs.

Whereas the Internet Shopping Network is a great all-purpose resource, ComputerESP (http://www.uvision.com) focuses on finding the lowest price available for a particular product. If you know the product you want to purchase, you can use the Fast Find feature to see which companies offer the lowest price for this product and how to contact these companies. You can also browse for products by category, you can view the Hot List to find out about special deals, or you can get information about products that are discounted for academic institutions and government agencies.

You can also find bargain prices at Surplus Direct (http://www.surplusdirect.com), a site that features overstocked and overproduced products. However, because these deals don't last long, you might want to act fast by visiting the New Arrivals section. You can also take advantage of weekly specials, and you can get information about receiving volume discounts. In addition, you can order a desktop computer, notebook computer, or workstation custom built to your specifications.

If even surplus hardware strains your wallet, you should visit the Used Computer Mall (http://www.usedcomputer.com). Although this site doesn't offer fancy graphics or giveaways, it does feature some of the most inexpensive products around. You can browse the free classified ads that other users have posted on this site, or you can post your own classified ad if you have used hardware to sell. You can also browse the Featured Dealers section to get information about companies that offer extremely low prices. You can even view a list of upcoming auctions and swap meets, and you can find out where to donate or recycle old hardware.

NETWORK GAMES OF THE MONTH

As more users play games over a network or Internet connection, game manufacturers are abandoning standalone games. Because standalone games are few and far between, I have reviewed two network games, both of which you can play in standalone mode. If you know of a new standalone game, please send an e-mail message to matthew@netfire.com.

Dark Colony

Dark Colony from Strategic Simulations Inc. is a futuristic strategy game that combines state-of-the-art game play with real-time tactical combat simulation. In Dark Colony, human colonists and an alien race called the Grays are fighting for control of Mars. When you begin playing Dark Colony, you must decide whether you want to fight for the humans, who have advanced robotics and cybernetics technology, or for the Grays, who have superior genetics technology. No matter which role you assume, you must use your technological resources to unlock the dark secrets of Mars's ancient inhabitants before your opponents do.

Unlike most games, Dark Colony allows you to transfer your commander unit from one war campaign to another. As a result, you retain any changes you have made as you progress to the next game level. For example, if you upgraded the weapons for your commander unit, these weapons would remain in the unit's arsenal for subsequent battles.

You can play Dark Colony with up to seven other people over a network or Internet connection, or you can play with one other person over a modem connection. You can also play Dark Colony in standalone mode.

Dark Colony is currently available only for Windows 95, although Strategic Simulations will soon release the game for Power Mac as well. You can purchase Dark Colony through retail channels at the suggested retail price of U.S. $49.99, and you can download a demo version of Dark Colony from http://www.darkcolony.com.

For more information about Dark Colony, visit Strategic Simulations's web site (http://www.ssionline.com) or the official Dark Colony web site (http://www.darkcolony.com). You can also call 1-888-808-4311 or 1-408-737-6800.

Hexen II

Hexen II from Raven Software Inc. is the sequel to Hexen, a fantasy game that was released in 1996. At the end of Hexen, you destroy the two evil Serpent Riders, D'Sparil and Korax. Unfortunately, another Serpent Rider survives to wreak havoc in your kingdom: To win Hexen II, you must defeat Eidolon, the last Serpent Rider. Before you can face Eidolon, however, you have to get past his bodyguards, the Dark Generals, who will fight to the death to protect their leader.

In Hexen II, you assume the role of an assassin, a crusader, a necromancer (a sorcerer), or a paladin (a military leader), each of which has a unique set of skills. For example, if you assume the role of an assassin, you can render yourself invisible when you are in the shadows, and if you assume the role of a paladin, you can become miraculously healed when you are near death. As you gain battle experience, these skills grow stronger, enabling you to fight more effectively.

Hexen II is based on the graphics engine used in the 3-D game, Quake. As a result, the graphics are fantastic if you have a graphics board that supports 3-D technology. (Although the graphics are good even if you do not have this type of board, Hexen II's 3-D capabilities take these graphics to a whole new level.) The world of Hexen II is forbidding, with realistic touches such as lightning flickering through the clouds and torches flaring against the night sky. You can walk, run, swim, and fly your way through 30 game levels full of life-and-death situations.

You can play Hexen II with up to 31 other people over a network connection or an Internet connection, or you can play with one other person over a modem connection. You can also play Hexen II in standalone mode.

Hexen II is currently available for Windows 95 and Windows NT Workstation 4.0. In addition, Activision, which distributes Hexen II, will soon release the game for the Sega Saturn and Sony Playstation gaming platforms. You can purchase Hexen II through retail channels at the suggested retail price of U.S. $59, and you can download a demo version of Hexen II from http://www.activision.com/games/action/hexenII/index.html.

For more information about Hexen II, visit Raven Software's web site (http://www.ravensoft.com), Activision's web site (http://www.activision.com), or the official Hexen II web site (http://www.hexenworld.com). You can also call 1-310-255-2000.

NetWare Connection, November 1997, pp. 47-48