Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!think!maynard!campbell
From: campbell@maynard.BSW.COM (Larry Campbell)
Newsgroups: comp.sources.d,comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: IBM PC as a terminal (was Re: when using termcap, get it right!)
Message-ID: <931@maynard.BSW.COM>
Date: Sat, 30-May-87 23:12:22 EDT
Article-I.D.: maynard.931
Posted: Sat May 30 23:12:22 1987
Date-Received: Tue, 2-Jun-87 01:12:18 EDT
References: <1149@carthage.swatsun.UUCP> <8601@tekecs.TEK.COM> <6828@mimsy.UUCP> <16906@amdcad.AMD.COM>
Sender: news@think.UUCP
Reply-To: campbell@maynard.UUCP (Larry Campbell)
Followup-To: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Organization: The Boston Software Works, Inc.
Lines: 35
Xref: mnetor comp.sources.d:730 comp.sys.ibm.pc:4477

In article <16906@amdcad.AMD.COM> phil@amdcad.UUCP (Phil Ngai) writes:
>
>Why would you want a PC instead of a terminal? Well, in addition to
>the fact that it can be cheaper (particularly if you want graphics)
>the IBM monitor makes really nice characters and the IBM keyboard
>feels VERY nice. I don't know how well the clones do in this area. 

Bah.  The IBM keyboards are detestable.  They are much too noisy for
office or home ... perhaps they'd be suitable for a factory floor.
Their layout is atrocious.  And until recently they obnoxiously overloaded
the numeric keypad with function and cursor keys.  Everyone agrees that
NumLock is a total botch.

And the IBM monitor?  Gack.  Either you're talking about a CGA and IBM
color monitor, since you mention graphics, or you're talking about
the monochrome adapter.  The CGA is garbage -- you'd go blind looking
at it for eight hours a day.  The monochrome adapter does deliver nicely
formed characters at a reasonable resolution, but the IBM monochrome
green screen has such a long persistence that when the display scrolls,
it smears like Tammy Bakker's mascara.

Now, you could build a nice terminal out of an AT clone, with one of
the new keyboards with separate cursor keys and without the raucous
IBM clackety-clack, and either an EGA with a multisync monitor or a mono
adapter and any non-IBM amber display.  But you're sure not going to
build a decent terminal with IBM hardware.

My main terminal at work is an AT clone, with a new-style silent
keyboard, a Hercules knock-off mono card and an amber monitor.
I like it a lot.  I would never trade any of the components for
their IBM equivalents.
-- 
Larry Campbell                                The Boston Software Works, Inc.
Internet: campbell@maynard.BSW.COM          120 Fulton Street, Boston MA 02109
uucp: {husc6,mirror,think}!maynard!campbell         +1 617 367 6846