Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!iuvax!bsu-cs!mithomas
From: mithomas@bsu-cs.UUCP (Michael Thomas Niehaus)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: TOPS, PCs & MACs
Message-ID: <5671@bsu-cs.UUCP>
Date: 13 Feb 89 15:25:42 GMT
References: <1765@cps3xx.UUCP> <914@stech.UUCP> <852@ur-cc.UUCP>
Distribution: usa
Organization: CS Dept, Ball St U, Muncie, Indiana
Lines: 36

In article <852@ur-cc.UUCP>, akk2@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (Atul Kacker) writes:
> In article <914@stech.UUCP> sysop@stech.UUCP (Jan Harrington) writes:
> > How does the PC TOPS Flash Card compare to a PC/Appletalk card?
> >
> >Use either one. Both support the TOPS software. Flash Card may be
> >cheaper.
> 
>   The last time I checked, the Apple PC/Appletalk card did not allow
>   you to have two serial devices in addition to the card.  The card took
>   over one of the serial interrupts.  So, if like me you already have
>   a modem on one serial port and a mouse on the other, you can't use
>   the Apple PC/Appletalk card.  This is stated very clearly (hah) on page
>   110 of their manual.  I feel that this should be on the box so that
>   the user is aware of it *BEFORE* they buy the card.

Apple's AppleTalk PC card DOES allow you to use two serial devices in addition
to the card.  With version 1.1 of the software, they stopped using interrupts,
instead going to a method of polling the card.  To keep the card from inter-
fering with any else, turn switches 1,2 and 3 off on the card.
   
>   One other point.  The software from TOPS will work on *any* AppleTalk
>   card, while the software from Apple will *only* work with Apple's
>   PC/AppleTalk card.  Case in point - Apple's PC AppleShare client software.

Usually this is not a problem.  If you are going with AppleShare PC you would
be looking specifically for software to connect you to an AppleShare file
server.  TOPS' software does not do that.
  
> Atul Kacker  |     Internet: akk2@uhura.cc.rochester.edu
>              |     UUCP: {ames,cmcl2,decvax,rutgers}!rochester!ur-cc!akk2

Michael Niehaus
Apple Student Rep
Ball State University
UUCP: ..!{pur-ee,iuvax}!bsu-cs!mithomas
AppleLink: ST0374