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From: das@ecsvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.micro.cbm
Subject: Re: VIP 80/106 columns in software?
Message-ID: <2469@ecsvax.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 11-May-84 19:16:15 EDT
Article-I.D.: ecsvax.2469
Posted: Fri May 11 19:16:15 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 13-May-84 07:35:59 EDT
References: rocksvax.412
Lines: 43

i just bought this package and have only about 30 minutes use with it, so i'm
no expert yet, but i'm pleased with what i see.  by the way, i am on an apple
right now (upper case only), not the c64, which lives at home.  the vip 106
column characters are 3 dots wide, 80-col offers a choice of 3 or 4 dots wide.
i only looked at the latter, and it's quite readable on my zenith green-screen,
but not on my tv set.  the default setup of the terminal emulates a vt52, but
settings of just about everything can be changed.  it's very flexible, easy to
use, and user friendly.  choices are made with icons, and the pointing hand
can be moved either by keyboard or joystick (alas, not by koala pad).  you can
skip the icons and enter choices via function keys (always identified on screen
unless you choose to turn them of to get 5 or 6 more text lines).  they claim
to even offer "autodial" for the 1600 vicmodem (which i have), by sending the
touchtone beeps through the speaker -- you have to hold the receiver in the
right place and set the volume right.  i tried it only once, without success --
dialing is easier.  however, vip can remember all sorts of messages (e.g. logon
sequences) and send them on command.  all ascii characters are available from
the keyboard.  and everything else you ever wanted (at least that i ever wanted)
is there.  one thing i don't like:  the disk is copy protected, and a backup
costs $10.  i once swore off all such software, but it seems that most of the
good stuff for the 64 is like that.  furthermore, while there is the usual
warning about not opening the package unless you agree with all the terms of
the "license", you have to open the package to find the backup policy.  the
so-called license expressly forbids making your own backup, which of course
flies in the face of the copyright law.  another curiosity: to have your
warranty in effect (180 days), or to get support over the phone, or notices of
upgrades, etc., you are supposed to send in the warranty card and register
your serial number.  that seems reasonable, but there was no warranty card in
the package, and i could find no indication of a serial number either, no
numbered sticker on the disk, no message on screen about a software serial
number, nothing on the invoice about it.

i had problems communicating with unix using the vicmodem and the terminal
program that comes with it -- lots of dropped and garbaged characters.  in my
brief trial of vip, the communication was rock steady, and the software 80
columns really works.  capture to printer worked nicely -- i haven't tried
the file upload/download yet.

     David A. Smith
     Department of Mathematics
     Duke University
     Durham, NC 27706
     (919) 684-2321
     {decvax,akgua}!mcnc!ecsvax!das