Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!ziploc!eps
From: eps@toaster.SFSU.EDU (Eric P. Scott)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next
Subject: Re: Slow Terminal emulator
Summary: Marketing hype, lies
Message-ID: <255@toaster.SFSU.EDU>
Date: 18 Jan 90 20:49:33 GMT
References: <7235@tank.uchicago.edu> <246300083@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu>
Reply-To: eps@cs.SFSU.EDU (Eric P. Scott)
Organization: San Francisco State University
Lines: 49

In article <246300083@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu> jpd00964@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu writes:
>I would recommend you avoid Kermit like the plague.  It runs at about 30%
>efficeincy, at least it did for me.

You're unique.  We've had no problems with kermit, and it's the
only protocol transfer available on ALL the machines we run,
including Primes and IBM mainframes.  The only serial line
transfer program we've seen that outperforms the current UNIX
kermit is zmodem, but if you've been following Info-Kermit/
comp.protocols.kermit you know that zmodem probably won't hold its
trophy much longer...  As for being a "tip" replacement for
dialing out (which was the original query), Kermit works very,
very well.  The executable is FREE.  The source code is FREE, and
kermit programs are supported, maintained, and enhanced by
people who aren't going to disappear overnight.  The protocol is
described in a book published by Digital Press, and the
documentation supplied with the software itself rivals the best
commercially-produced material.

>                                     Use XModem or ZModem.

XModem--what a joke.  ZModem--for those FEW machines that support
it, and when you can get nearly error-free 8-bit clean
connections (If you're trying to dial in to one of our campus
machines, it takes about a dozen commands to the various things
between the modem pool and network hosts to keep them from
stomping all over your data ... I had to write the most godawful
uucp chat scripts ... kermit survives our relatively hostile
environment with only one command to the nasty hardware).
zmodem may work fine between a laptop and a NeXT with a 1-meter
cable, but it just doesn't cut it in the real world.  (If you're
really concerned about modem connections, you're already using
MNP/V.42 or PEP, right?)

>                                                            Both of which
>are common and PD.  (man rz and sz for zmodem)

Funny, the last versions of zmodem I saw were definitely not PD,
and had commercial use restrictions that all but precluded their
use outside educational institutions.

If you feel you must part with $100 for decent communications
software, make a tax-deductable contribution to the Columbia
University Center for Computing Activities.

I have no connection with CUCCA other than a very satisfied user
of their products.

					-=EPS=-