Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!mcvax!unido!tub!tmpmbx!netmbx!alderaan
From: alderaan@netmbx.UUCP (Thomas Cervera)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: Signum
Keywords: scientific text editor
Message-ID: <1327@netmbx.UUCP>
Date: 9 Sep 88 18:30:34 GMT
References: <3605@phoenix.Princeton.EDU>
Organization: netmbx Public Access Unix, Berlin, West Germany
Lines: 57

In article <3605@phoenix.Princeton.EDU>, mpsimon@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (M. Patrick Simon) writes:
>
> ... stuff deleted ...
> 
> Questions about Signum:
> 
> 1. Will it support a color monitor? Will it work on a 1040 ST? Does it
>      require that I have a hard drive?

No, (in my experience) no color monitor is supported. 
The european version of SIGNUM works fine on 1040s.
A hard drive is not required, but you should use one, because SIGNUM makes
frequent use of disk (consists of a bunch of utilities).

> 
> 2. What file format/printing options? I.e. does it produce DVI output files,
>      can I print to an Epson compatible, or to a postscript printer?

Output to EPSON compatible printers (9 dots) is supported, but very slow
(about 15 min per page, because each line is printed 6 times). 24 dot printers
would be a good guess. There also is an ATARI Laser driver included.
The .SDO file format is only compatible with SIGNUM, but ASCII imports/exports
are possible.

> 
> 3. Will it support graphics figures in the text?

Yes, and in VERY GOOD QUALITY !!! And you can change the size of graphics
images, you can easily duplicate them, without any problems of overlapping !
Also the texts !

> 
> 4. Suggested retail price in the USA? (STPlus has it advertised for $250).

Could be true, I think. The german version is DM449, that is, about $230).

> 
> 5. Any major or minor limitations encountered by current/previous users?

The print speed. The printing image is very good, but it must be printed
6 times each line for max quality.

--

SIGNUM is a WYSIWYG editor, I mean what I say. Great stuff. Very quick on 
editing. No fatal bugs detected in the german version (tested a friend's
SIGNUM over 3 Months).

--

alderaan
OP RKOpdp (RSTS/E)
FB Mathematik/Informatik
RKO Berlin

Dieffenbachstrasze 60-61
1000 Berlin 61