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From: gregory@rtech.UUCP (Gregory Pearson)
Newsgroups: net.micro,net.micro.mac
Subject: Re: TOPS
Message-ID: <140@rtech.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 27-Feb-86 12:28:48 EST
Article-I.D.: rtech.140
Posted: Thu Feb 27 12:28:48 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 1-Mar-86 17:55:30 EST
References: <1584@emory.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Relational Technology Inc, Alameda CA
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Xref: watmath net.micro:13932 net.micro.mac:4904

> Does anyone have any experience with the Transcendental Operating
> System (TOPS) from Centram Systems West? One of the schools here
> is proposing to get it. It supposedly links Macintosh, IBM-PC and
> VAX (OS not specified), allowing any to be used as file server to
> the other. For example, the Mac could store MacPaint on an XT's
> hard disk and execute it from there.
> 
> Any information I could obtain (other than vendor literature)
> would be appreciated. Please reply to me directly.
> 
Yes, I have experience with TOPS, which stands for the Transcendental
Operating System.  I've used it on networks with Macs, Mac xls (aka
Lisa), IBM/xt & ats, compaqs & an ITT at equivalent.  Macs are connected
with just appletalk connectors & need only the software to "mount",
"publish" & effectively use the resources of other macs; for
macs -> pcs <-> other macs, a card is required on the pc side.

What is particularly fun about this network is that it is a
distributed file server network wherein accessing the hard disk
of the ibm/[a-x]t's disk looks, to the mac user, just as if
he/she were accessing just another hard disk attached to his/her
own local mac.  The ibm files, directories & subdirectories appear
as mac icons.  Similarly, from the pc side, mac files look just
like regular ibm/[pc or ms]-dos files.

What TOPS allows is not just file transfer or downloading from
1 format to another, but actual inter-operating system connectivity
and the ablilty to use all the resources in an office or small
working group.

And since TOPS does not rely on a dedicated server, you need not
invest large sums of money to enable all the machines in your
environment to talk to each other, to share & update data, etc.

If I am not mistaken, Apple & Centram are co-marketing TOPS
for the mac and it is going into Beta testing now; Centram is
also starting Beta for the Mac-PC TOPS.

For more information, why don't you call them or drop
them a line.  Their address is 2372 Ellsworth AVe. Berkeley,
CA94705 (not sure of zip), and their phone # is 415-644-8244.




> Peter W. Day
> Computing Center
> Emory University
> Atlanta, GA 30322
> 404/329-7678
> {akgua,sb1,decvax,gatech}!emory!ospwd
> ospwd%emory@csnet-relay

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