Touch N' Go in the Small Office

By Cade Metz

Like most other manual office tools, the classic in-and-out board that displays each employee's where abouts has migrated to the PC environment. Touch N' Go, a [$99.95]* electronic in-and-out board, lacks the extensive feature set of Futurus Corp.'s aptly named software, WhereAbouts, but it does offer a lucid, easy-to-install interface for monitoring who's where.

If your office has fewer than 20 employees and a Net-Ware or Microsoft Windows network, Touch N' Go allows you to configure an electronic in-and-out board in a matter of minutes. Both the client and server display a box that lists employee comings and goings. Each employee has a status button that identifies the person as IN, OUT, or IN*, which signifies that the person is in but not accessible. In addition, Touch N' Go has a Remarks line that shows departure time or specific whereabouts.

To change an employee's status button, you merely left-or right-click on the button. If you change the button to OUT or IN*, Touch N' Go launches a small dialog box that lets you choose from a predefined list of Remarks, or you can type in a new comment.

A common database on the server stores all in-and-out data. Touch N' Go automatically queries the database for updates each minute, but you can manually update your screen at any time.

Touch N' Go's chief asset is its unassuming interface; you can even reduce the main window to a much smaller screen that identifies employees only by their status color. If you desire a more detailed interface or more complex employee-monitoring functions, you should turn to the bulkier WhereAbouts package.

Touch N' Go. List price: [$99.95.]* Server requirements: 3.5 MB hard disk space, Novell's Netware, Microsoft Windows NT, Windows 95, or Windows for WorkGroups network. Workstation requirements: 45 K hard disk space, Microsoft Windows 3.1 or later. Touch N' Go Systems Inc., Anchorage, AK; 800-691-6333, 907-338-8188.

*The $59.95 special introductory price of Touch N' Go, 20-User Classic Edition has expired.

Other Reviews of the Classic Edition

[Miami Herald] [PC Magazine] [Alaska Journal] Columbia Tribunel]

Touch N' Go In-And-Out Board
provided by Bright Solutions, Inc.
Box 211032 Anchorage, AK 99521
voice: (907) 338-8188 fax: (907) 333-5869
E-mail