WE have a fax modem that does not give us any problems when it comes to sending English faxes. But for Chinese faxes, words are small and difficult to read. Is there software which can solve this problem? Instead of sending an ''image'' like a fax or uploading/downloading files by remote access, can we really send English, or Chinese, ''text'' as batches? Do we need the same software in both the sending and receiving machines? S. O. LEUNG Kowloon Tong To be able to answer your question properly, it is necessary to know which software you are using to send faxes. Some fax programs simply transmit exactly what is on your screen, so the resolution and type size of the fax sent will be the same as what you see on your monitor. WinFax is one that should help you solve your problem, so try it and see what happens. From the second part of your question, I presume you are asking about modem communications. If so, yes, sending ''text'' is possible and has been for a long time now, but no, you do not need the exact same communications software on either end. For example, you could send a transmission using Procomm, while the recipient can use something like Cross Talk to receive it on his machine. I HAVE an Olivetti M211 laptop which has a 286/16 megahertz processor and one megabyte (MB) of random access memory (RAM) which I find perfectly adequate for the majority of functions I use regularly. However, I am finding that I am unable to consider some of the latest software coming on to the market due to a lack of memory. The Olivetti machine has a connector built-in to allow an expansion RAM card of either one MB or four MB to be installed. Unfortunately Olivetti no longer stocks these cards nor do any local dealers that I have found. The connector for the card appears to be a standard 40-pin bus connector and I wondered if you know of any other boards which could fit? I have tried to get a copy of the technical reference manual for this machine from Olivetti to allow me to check compatibility for myself, but the company's technical department refused to supply me with one. They apparently only supply them to dealers. In addition to this problem, the laptop has a built-in EGA adaptor with a nine-pin socket to allow connection to an external EGA monitor. I have a Sharpsync multiscan SVGA monitor which has a 15-pin connector. Is it possible to get a nine-pin to 15-pin adaptor to allow me to run this monitor from the laptop? M. K. DOUGALL Pokfulam What can I say? Be careful what you buy and ask about what you get when you buy. Many chip sockets are standard for particular systems but not for others. As is the case with your Olivetti laptop, you either get the component from the vendor or not at all. About your second question - yes, it is possible to do a conversion from a 15-pin to nine-pine connector, but you will have to build the plug yourself. I have not heard of any pre-built plugs that will do the job. To build it yourself, you will need the pin configuration for the adaptor and monitor and understand configurations fully before you begin. The whole process should cost you less than $50. If you do not know how to do it yourself, there is of course another option. Go down to the Golden Shopping Centre in Shamshuipo and talk to a technician at one of the many computer stores there. There is bound to be someone there who will do the job for you for the right price. Getting him to understand what you want will be the biggest problem. I would suggest taking a translator - of the human variety - with you.
