GSP 1000 Times Crosswords Home and Lifestyle Applications

The CD-ROM's contents are divided into 17 chapters--the "Addiction" chapter shows that nicotine is a drug and explains that you get addicted to it faster than cocaine or heroin; "Special Cigarettes" gets to grips with those cigarettes that seem particularly good (for example, the one just after a meal or the first of the day)--Allen explains that the reason these are special is that they follow times when you couldn't smoke (because you were eating or sleeping) and that it's the addiction kicking in, nothing more.

Work through Allen Carr's Easyway to Stop Smoking and you will understand why you smoke, and how you can get your attitude in order and stop right now. When you've worked through the CD-ROM (which you can easily do in a single session) you should be ready to stop smoking immediately. And with a 90 percent success rate you may never buy another pack again. --Sandra Vogel

Each document is produced in the same way. You're asked a series of questions relating to the specifics of the subject or task and as you fill in the answers, the letter or contract slowly takes shape on the screen. You can save what you're doing at any time, or skip steps and return to them later if you're not sure how to answer. When you're finished, you can use the editing tools to alter the look of the document, changing text to bold or italic, introducing page breaks and so on. For those documents where a proper form is required, Business Contracts and Letters automatically drops the information into a pre-designed Adobe Acrobat PDF form which you can just print out.

This is an easy product to use, covers a reasonable range of business situations and although no substitute for proper legal advice in certain circumstances, can be used with confidence for common day-to-day jobs. As with any product that makes reference to the law, you need to be careful-make sure you register the program to receive updates and other important information and read the notes that accompany each document carefully. If in any doubt, talk to a solicitor. --Rob Beattie

The package is very strong on the history and civilisation of ancient Egypt--there are detailed descriptions of many of the elements of family and social life. With quotes from authorities such as Herodotus, and details as abstruse as hairstyle, the result is a strange combination of the easy-going and the erudite. When it comes to the main archaeological sites, the viewer is taken on a virtual tour, with illustrations, video footage (but not always of the best quality, it has to be said), and sections putting each site into context.

The detail on the history and culture is very good, but it is a pity that there is less detailed information on contemporary Egypt. After all, while travellers go mainly to see the sites of the ancient culture, they are visiting the modern country, and the package would have benefited from the inclusion of a few more contemporary features. Nevertheless, with a wealth of detail and historical information, this will be a good introduction for most visitors planning their trips to the Pyramids and sites such as Luxor. --Toby Green

Titles in this series include Discover France, Discover Great Britain, Discover Greece, Discover Italy, Discover Spain, Discover The Med and Discover The Orient.

One of the best historical sections is that on the prehistory of Britain. Here there are insights into the Celts and the Celtic language, as well as to important stone-age sites such as Stonehenge. Naturally, the designers cannot resist propagating a few popular stereotypes--there is a good graphic of the famous British cuppa and an entire section on the British royal family--but there are also passages on the modern university system which shy away from concentrating on the usual Oxbridge stereotype. The CD-ROM also includes a good and detailed guide to the major sites of London and to the interesting architecture of some parts of the capital.

All in all, this is a good package, giving both contemporary insights (such as the Open University system) and a reasonably complete picture of Britain's prehistoric origins. Visitors could do far worse than use this CD-ROM to expand their knowledge before exploring the land of cucumber sandwiches and the Notting Hill Carnival for themselves. --Toby Green

Titles in this series include Discover Egypt, Discover France, Discover Great Britain,Discover Greece, Discover Italy, Discover Spain, Discover the Med and Discover the Orient.

Combining detailed accounts of some of the great Greek philosophers with guides to Crete and some of the more popular islands, such as Lesbos, this package will be useful for people trying to understand most things Hellenic, and is divided into four sections, with elements on Athens, the islands, mythology and styles of architecture. While the modern section is a little cursory, this is made up for with virtual tours of the major tourist sites of Athens and the islands, and guides to some of the major monastic sites, including Mount Athos. There are also some good photographs and video footage of traditional Greek dancing.

There is no denying that the description and text are a little weaker than in some of the other guides in this series, and that there is a dearth of information on food and drink. Still, the package does succeed in conveying a strong impression of Greece. Those interested in other ancient civilisations of the Mediterranean area might want to consider buying Discover The Med which includes Greece and other cultures such as Carthage and Rome. --Toby Green

Titles in this series include Discover Egypt, Discover France, Discover Great Britain, Discover Italy, Discover Spain, Discover The Med and Discover The Orient.