Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uwm.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!samsung!rex!ames!dftsrv!amarna.gsfc.nasa.gov!xrtnt From: xrtnt@amarna.gsfc.nasa.gov (Nigel Tzeng) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga Subject: Re: Call these BBS Message-ID: <2246@dftsrv.gsfc.nasa.gov> Date: 5 Jun 90 22:53:05 GMT References: <2514@zipeecs.umich.edu> <25116@usc.edu> <2238@dftsrv.gsfc.nasa.gov> <25129@usc.edu> Sender: news@dftsrv.gsfc.nasa.gov Reply-To: xrtnt@amarna.gsfc.nasa.gov Distribution: usa Organization: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center - Greenbelt, MD, USA Lines: 102 News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.3-4 In article <25129@usc.edu>, papa@pollux.usc.edu (Marco Papa) writes... ^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. Okay. Most of my software purchases have been through mail order since the nearest dealer is slime and the next closest is a drive away. Not a huge distance but the prices are outrageous (from the rent I suppose...it is in one of the real upscale malls). Haven't found a place I really want to do buisness with yet... ^ ^>Perhaps pirateing would happen less if crippled demo versions were readily ^>available to the users (like Xanth or various BBS). ^ ^I seriously doubt that. You're probably right. ^ ^>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. Would it help if I wrote a letter to Oxxi? Perhaps you ought to think about including it anyway as extra incentive to buy ATalk III. Fixing the VT100 emulation would also help. Granted that "giving away" code is no fun (yeah I write code too...I given more overtime for "free" than I thought I ever would) but you'd make an instant new sale (wow...that'll probably come out to 87 cents for you ;-). You're right that Template "breaks" on VLT. Real annoying. Unless the Amiga gets a terminal emulation package at least as good as Versa Term Pro then it can't compete as well against Macs. Which is a shame since most of the pieces are lying around. An honest to god Vt240 emulator would also be nice but there isn't much a VT220/TEK4105 emulator can't handle in the VMS world. VT220 emulation is a lot better for VMS types since the major DEC editors map keys differently for them. Once you get used to the VT200+ series setup the VT100 really can screw you up (where the hell is that damn DO key???). ^ ^>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. Hmmm...can't go up to my boss and say "Hey there this package that would be great but the guy who wrote it is in jail for coke use..." I don't think it'll fly ;-). ^ ^-- Marco ^-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ^"Xerox sues somebody for copying?" -- David Letterman ^-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Well, thanks for the info. I wish you continued success with ATalk! NT -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- // | Nigel Tzeng - STX Inc - NASA/GSFC COBE Project \X/ | xrtnt@amarna.gsfc.nasa.gov | Amiga | Standard Disclaimer Applies: The opinions expressed are my own.