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Path: utzoo!watmath!watdcsu!haapanen
From: haapanen@watdcsu.UUCP (Tom Haapanen [DCS])
Newsgroups: net.micro.pc
Subject: Re: APL Query
Message-ID: <311@watdcsu.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 23-Jul-84 12:47:11 EDT
Article-I.D.: watdcsu.311
Posted: Mon Jul 23 12:47:11 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 24-Jul-84 03:50:30 EDT
References: <269@sri-arpa.UUCP>
Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 33

.
Sorry for posting this instead of mailing, but I can't get mail to
ARPA sites going...

I have had experience with several different PC APL's:

STSC APL*PLUS/PC is, in my opinion, an excellent product, even if it
is somewhat highly proced.  The new version (3.0 I think) provides DOS
2.x support, keyword forms and online help.  The APL is loaded with
system functions, supports APL and DOS files and is quite fast.  The
manuals (4 PC-style binders) are well-written and comprehensive, and a
copy of APL: An Interactive Approach is included.  Recommended.

WATCOM APL is a considerably lower-proced product, and is missing many
of the features of STSC APL (such as real full-screen editing).  It is
also quite slow, and the mauals are rather skimpy.  Like the STSC, it
includes a character generator ROM, and supports the 8087.

IBM APL I have the least experience with:  however, I can tell you
that it requires (a) a colour/graphics adapter (and will not display
upper/lower case at the same time as APL characters) and (b) the 8087.
It's comparable in speed to STSC, but is missing the numerous system
functions, instead having `auxiliary processors' like VS APL does.
From my brief exposure, I prefer STSC.

There is no need to buy an APL keyboard; you simply place APL stickers
on the keys (or if you've used APL a lot, there is no need for even
that).  The system will automatically switch to the APL character set
when you get into APL.


	Tom Haapanen
	{allegra,decvax,ihnp4}!watmath!watdcsu!haapanen