ZIP Transfer Utility

 ZIP wasn't developed for the HP 95LX, but a lot of people have used this dandy little program for file transfer between the HP 95LX and a PC. ZIP doesn't offer fancy features, but the program is a workhorse.

 If you don't mind somewhat of an awkward, arcane interface, ZIP provides the fastest file transfer using the tiniest amount of disk space - 10K on each machine. You'll need to dig up your own serial cable to use with this program.

Look elsewhere for file translation and merging features. ZIP is strictly for moving files between machines. The best news of all is that this program only costs $30, and payment for the program is voluntary for individual use. The program is so good, it's worth more than $30. ZIP isn't just for 95LX to PC transfer, it's terrific for transferring files PC to PC, too.

To install ZIP (copy its programs to the 95LX) you will have to use another connectivity package, the built-in COMM program, a RAM card, or a modem.

 Figure #4 shows what ZIP looks like when run from the DOS prompt on your PC. This is the main and only menu you will work from. ZIP needs to be run on both machines simultaneously. Before starting ZIP on the 95LX you need to run ZIPCFG.COM, a special utility to set the ZIP to run in 40 column mode on the 95LX. You can also use this file to set the colors for ZIP when you run it on your PC.

 Working with ZIP is as simple as selecting "Send" on one machine and "Receive" on the other machine. However, this means you'll need to be doing some typing on each keyboard. It's more ideal to set one machine to be the "Server". Then, all you need to do is type in commands on the other machine. You can use the DOS default character (asterisk) in file names to copy several files at once. You also have options to list directories or even delete files while using ZIP.

Connectivity Kit Comparisons Table

 Don't let the simple look of ZIP's menu fool you. This program is loaded with many nice features and touches. Using the command options in ZIP you can have the program copy files, overwrite files only when the new copy has a more recent time/date stamp, and prompt you to confirm files individually. There's even a command which lets you "fetch" files from the other computer while in server mode -- the "Options" choice in ZIP. Finally, ZIP commands can be used in batch files expands, expanding ZIP's potential even more.

 ZIP is a great program, ideally suited for file transfer from one computer to another. It's a simple, lean, and very, very effective program -- the fastest of all the programs we looked at for this review.