Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!lll-tis!helios.ee.lbl.gov!pasteur!ucbvax!decwrl!purdue!gatech!bbn!rochester!ritcv!iav1917
From: iav1917@ritcv.UUCP (alan i. vymetalik)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec.micro
Subject: Re: Rainbow Windows
Message-ID: <553@ritcv.UUCP>
Date: 10 Jun 88 17:42:59 GMT
References: <4061@islenet.UUCP>
Reply-To: iav1917@ritcv.UUCP (alan i. vymetalik)
Organization: Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
Lines: 105

In article <4061@islenet.UUCP> mmac@islenet.UUCP (Michael E. Macmillan) writes:
>
>                         
>The following article is from the June 1988 issue of Silicon
>Valley Rainbow, the newsletter of the Silicon Valley DEC PC Users
>Group.  I thought it so informative as to demand a broader
>audience.  It is posted here with the consent of the author and
>the editor of the newsletter.
>   
>Michael E. Macmillan
>
>
>A glance inside Rainbow Windows
>-------------------------------
>
>By Len Berk
>Toronto, Ontario, PC group
>
>     There's good news for Rainbow users: A version of
>MS-Windows for the Rainbow exists, and some of us have had
>the chance to try it out.
>
[ some background deleted ]

   Simply amazing... It appears the word is out, in full!
   So, Windows does exist, hmm? ;-)  Sure looks this is
   the case.  BUT, remember, if you have a copy, do not
   call DEC or Microsoft for support.  In their minds,
   this product doesn't exist at all.  Remember, MS-DOS 3.10
   was just "found to exist" because Suitable Solutions has
   signed a marketing/rights deal with Digital.  MS-DOS 3.10
   is slated for shipment on August 1, 1988!  What EVERYONE
   needs to do is to get Suitable Solutions or some other
   established company to yank Windows out of Digital's
   clutches and have it upgraded and supported.  IF, Suitable
   Solutions releases their 80286 processor board, the
   Rainbow's life span will have extended by at least 3-5
   years.  Of course, someone will have to upgrade Windows to
   V2.04.  But, with Apple suing everyone, it's best to wait
   it out...

>implementation of Windows for the Rainbow is incomplete. 
>Like MS-DOS, Windows comprises some code that's machine
>specific and some that's not.
>
>     The machine specific code resides in device drivers for
>the computer's peripherals: keyboard, serial ports, mouse,
>sound generator, and so on.  Of these, the communications
>port driver turns out to be inoperable -- it crashes the
>machine -- and the mouse driver has not been installed, so
>programs that perform serial communications or require a
>mouse won't work.
>
>     Among the standard Windows desk-top applications, the
>terminal emulator doesn't run, nor does the print spooler, 

   Well, check out the version of Windows you are running.
   If the version numbers isn't 1.03.04 in the start up
   screen (and, I have seen a file timestamp of 11/19/87) then
   it's possible the comm port driver doesn't work.  I have
   seen NO problem other than speed when running TERMINAL.EXE.

   (Note here that the start-up screen for Rainbow Windows
   has a (c) of 1985 ! by Digital.  1985!  For crying out loud.
   They've been sitting on a GOLDMINE for years.  The Rainbow
   could have been one of the better Windows-machines out there
   if Digital had know what to do.  Look at the marketplace
   right now:  it's windows; Apple MACs and PC Windows!)

   I haven't played with the spooler much, but it seems to
   work.

   However, the BIGGEST, MOST ANNOYING PROBLEM is that the
   mouse doesn't work NO MATTER HOW MUCH cheese I give it!
   No serial mouse, such as Microsoft's mouse or my Logitech
   C7 mouse, works.  There is an obscure note floating around
   that the Logitech R5 mouse WILL work on the Rainbow.
   Only a couple catches here... The R5 mouse is no longer made.
   And, it connects to the PRINTER port (with an external power
   supply, of course).  Figures...

>                                                  I'm told a
>Rainbow implementation of Windows 1.03 complete with mouse
>already exists.

   If anyone knows where it is, please tell me.

   Of course, all that has been mentioned in this posting
   (including my comments) is total fantasy.  I just wish I
   had Windows.  I just know Microsoft and Digital are very
   sure that Windows doesn't exist.  And, of course, if they
   say it doesn't exist, then I am, of course, dreaming.

   Alan

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