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From: papa@pollux.usc.edu (Marco Papa)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Call these BBS
Message-ID: <25129@usc.edu>
Date: 5 Jun 90 18:07:57 GMT
References: <2514@zipeecs.umich.edu> <25116@usc.edu> <2238@dftsrv.gsfc.nasa.gov>
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Organization: Felsina Software, Los Angeles, CA
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In article <2238@dftsrv.gsfc.nasa.gov> xrtnt@amarna.gsfc.nasa.gov writes:
>You don't release a demo version of ATalk do you?  I'd like to see it before I
>purchase it.  Actually I'd like to see any package before I buy them since some
>expensive games/applications are real peices of junk.

Dealers have been given "demo" copies (the cripped type) of A-Talk III for
a long time.  These are fully functional except that no data is sent out
the serial port. If your dealer doesn't have it, tell him to call Oxxi
at (213)427-1227 and ask for one.

>Perhaps pirateing would happen less if crippled demo versions were readily
>available to the users (like Xanth or various BBS).

I seriously doubt that.

>BTW:  You mentioned that you have a full Tek4105/4107 emulator written but not
>released it because no company  has bought it yet.  I take it to mean that
>ATalk III does not fully support these modes.  

A-Talk III supports a Tek 4014 and VT640 extensions.  The Tek4105/4107 code is
"derivative" code of the one in A-Talk III so Oxxi is the only company that can
buy it.  So far, they don't think there is a market there to support the
delivery of a "commercial" versoin of such a thing.  It is very easy to add
a few extra Tek4105 commands (like VLT did) to get color and lines. 
Unfortunately that's useless since all major Tek4105 sofware packages
(take Template, DISSPLA, etc...) use all Tek4105 commands. I havn't found
a software package that doesn't break with VLT's Tek4105 emulation.

>What advantages does ATalk have
>over handshake (VT220 Emulator) and VLT (limited 4105 emulation)?  

Handshake is a "perfect" VT220 emulator. That's it. If that's all you need
it is great.  No Tek, few protocls, no other emulations.  VLT is faily good
as a Tek4014, but the VT100 in it has major flaws. Again if all you do is
Tek4014, VLT is the way to go. It's good and it's free.  As most commercials
A-Talk III tries to give you everytihng in one package.  As many emulations
and protocols as one can get, advanced features like Arexx, multi-serial,
and all supported by continuous updates (of the software AND documentation).
And we continuously strive to add features to our program.  With the A3000
networking announcement it is clear that networking is something to think
about for the future.  You can bet, a networking version of A-Talk III
is not far away :-)

>Also, is it possible to buy a copy of your TEK emulator?  

No, given my current contracts, it is not possible.

>Anybody have a commerical or PD/Shareware product out there that can help? 
>I'll gladly sink $50-$100 of my own cash to get them to buy Amigas.

A guy in Florida had released at some point a partial Tek4105 emulator.
I recall the guy went to jail for cocain use or something like that.  I
haven't heard whatever happened to him since.

-- Marco
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"Xerox sues somebody for copying?" -- David Letterman
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