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From: rmtodd@uokmax.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: procomm (again) Really procomm vs Kermit
Message-ID: <636@uokmax.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 31-Jul-87 19:30:29 EDT
Article-I.D.: uokmax.636
Posted: Fri Jul 31 19:30:29 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 2-Aug-87 10:33:28 EDT
References: <4491@jade.BERKELEY.EDU> <3829@garfield.UUCP> <1736@tekig4.TEK.COM>
Reply-To: rmtodd@uokmax.UUCP (Richard Michael Todd)
Organization: University of Oklahoma, Norman
Lines: 43
Keywords: kermit procomm

In article <1736@tekig4.TEK.COM> maxg@tekig4.UUCP (Max Guernsey) writes:
>I've procomm several times, and what I don't understand is why
>you would pay for procomm, when you can get Kermit free.
>Kermit works well, has a great vt100 and h19 terminal emulators,
>downloads well (not fast), and is basically bug free.  The source
>for Kermit is available.
>What am I missing about PROCOMM?
1. Procomm supports other protocols besides Kermit.  Not everybody in the
world speaks Kermit, you know.  Procomm handles 9 different comm. protocols.

2. Terminal emulations.  You say Kermit has two great terminal emulators (the
version I remember only had one, and it wasn't too good. Maybe there's a
newer version.)  Procomm supports 10 different terminal types.  I use the
TVI 920 emulation myself.  It's nice because Less on the UNIX system I use
is smart enough to use the TVI control codes so that underlined material
in the text appears in high-intensity on my screen, and boldface text appears
in reverse video.  The H19 only supports reversed video, I believe.
(Interestingly enough, last time I checked, the great Crosstalk's alleged
TVI 920 emulator completely ignored highlighting control codes.)

3. Built-in dialing directory with auto-redial feature.  I use this a lot.
You can enter a phone number in the directory and associate it with a command
file so that when Procomm sees that the modem has made contact with the modem
on the other end, it *automatically* executes the command script.

4. You say Procomm has a bug in its Kermit emulation.  My experience is that
Procomm will not download binary files from Fido boards in Kermit mode.  I've
heard various places that a. this is a Fido bug or b. this is a Procomm bug.
I don't know.  For what it's worth, I never was able to successfully download
binary files under Kermit protocol using Kermit, either.  

Frankly, I don't see Procomm as that expensive.  For $35 for registration
and diskettes, or $50 for registration and diskettes and the printed manual,
it's in my opinion the best communication package around.  I've only begun
to scratch the surface of its capabilities. 

What I don't understand is why anybody buys Crosstalk.  Have the people
who make Crosstalk yet made either a communications protocol or a
terminal emulator that *works*?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Richard Todd
USSnail:820 Annie Court,Norman OK 73069
UUCP: {allegra!cbosgd|ihnp4}!okstate!uokmax!rmtodd