Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!apple!netcom!lyle
From: lyle@netcom.UUCP (Lyle Fong)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Subject: Re: Agate
Message-ID: <12591@netcom.UUCP>
Date: 28 May 90 19:24:29 GMT
References: <13128@wpi.wpi.edu>
Organization: NetCom- The Bay Area's Public Access Unix System {408 249-0290 guest}
Lines: 35

Well.. AGATE is a potentially good product, but currently, it really lacks
many features.  VT100 is NOT IBM-ANSI..  It is more of a subset of ANSI.
If you run AGATE, and call a IBM board, any color code will screw up
the screen.. either with wierd numbers and characters or clear the entire
screen to unreadable lengths..  It does have a lot of the special character
codes, however.. but the text is barely readable..  partly due to the
horrible fonts.. which you can change, but is very tedious work.
 
The worst problem with it is the lack of a quit feature..  running it from my
hard drive, and having to reboot everytime I run it is not fun.  It is very
buggy.. crashing at wierd times..  even when you type in a telephone number.
There is no way the color could be achieved on DHR with decent resolution..
so he should have just interpreted the color codes as nothing..

A friend of mine, however, is currently working on a IIgs specific ANSI program.I've seen the beta version, and it really is impressive..  all the IBM
characters, color.. and all.  With direct calls to the screen, it bypasses
the toolbox, and therefore, doesn't sacrifice any speed drawbacks.
 
The only problem he has is that on a IIgs.. in 640 mode with DECENT text, you
can't have dithering.. which leaves you with 4 colors.  He can change the
palettes, but with only 4 colors per line, he has to use only the colors that
are most used..  but.. it still looks very good.  

He has a lot of school work to catch up on,.. but he should be finished in
a few months.  (dunno how he is planning to distribute it.. as shareware
or whatever)

Will keep you posted on the progress..

Lyle

-- 

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