Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!ames!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!SAIL.STANFORD.EDU!TVR%CCRMA-F4 From: TVR%CCRMA-F4@SAIL.STANFORD.EDU (Tovar) Newsgroups: comp.protocols.appletalk Subject: re: Re: Liason network bridges vs. Telebit TrailBlazer Plus modems Message-ID: Date: 25 Mar 89 20:24:00 GMT Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Organization: The Internet Lines: 65 There certainly has been alot of flaming about Liason software, and when it appears in print, things definitely get complicated. That's something that lawsuits are made of. The last message got my attention, as it touches on a larger issue as well, so here is another flame (and possible solution): It doesn't _have_ to reconfigure it. In practice, though, they made the right choice. Two reasons: [alexis@ccnysci.uucp] I vehemently disagree that this is the right choice. It definitely should not automatically reconfigure a modem, and write out that configuration (e.g. alter the hardware). I speak as a someone who has written terminal simulators and have dealt with modems and network software before some of the readers of this list were even in grammar school. Reaching in and changing system software and especially hardware with explicit agreement from the user is the sort of thing that viruses are made out of. There's alot of software out there that does this sort of thing, patching system calls and the like, and this makes life real hard for someone who has to maintain the system software, since when there's a bug, it becomes harder and harder to figure out whose fault it is. An intermittent failure can make you want to tear your (or someone else's) hair out. 1) They are selling this product to novices as well as experts. Novices will not know how to configure their Telebit to autobaud, and ... [ibid.] That's exactly the problem. They make the modem work great with THEIR product and at the same time, break other products. Novices may not even know what's wrong, and from what i've seen lately, the average computer store's technician may have trouble sorting this sort of thing out. 2) Experts may well use the modem with other comm programs at certain times. Unfortunately, many (if not most) comm programs tell the modem to restore settings to the factory defaults. So you very well may be "reconfiguring your modem a lot when Liason isn't looking." [ibid.] Right again. This restore the modems to some consistent state at which point the program can configure it for its own purposes. Experts also know what option work well for their particular brand of modem with the software they used, neither of which may not necessarily be documented properly. Having this gratuitously changed is very annoying at best. Thus, it would be nice if, in general, reconfiguration would be an option. (I'm adding this as an option to my own program next time i recompile). Much more of this kind of thing out there, and we'll be seeing `reconfiguation wars'... My guess is that just because of this flap, they will put in an option to change this in version 2.0. I'm getting a beta tomorrow, and I'll let y'all know if it's in the beta. Truth is, I'd just as soon NOT see it. Any "expert" user paranoid enough to worry can fix it in ten seconds with ResEdit, and it would clutter up a very well-done interface. [ibid.] The user should be asked before changing hardware settings, and i hope that is the option provided. The dialog could simply ask whether to change it: [Always], [This time], [Never]. Configuring a modem does take time, so there's reason to avoid it, especially if it needs to happen during the boot process. Providing these options allows for both speed and compatability. One shouldn't need ResEdit, a relatively arcane program, in order to do this. I'm looking forward to seeing Liason correct this defect. -- Tovar P.S. On a related topic, does anyone know of an RS232<->LocalTalk Gateway which will coexist with an AppleShare server? In the interest of reducing message traffic, please reply by mail, if possible, and i will post replies (or summarize) if requested (via mail).