hr@uicsl.UUCP (12/10/85)
<>
In the December issue of "Mini-Micro Systems", TeleVideo has an
ad for their 955 terminal. How does this compare to other terminals
in the price range? How well would it work with Emacs? Function keys
might be nice, but I'm more interested in things like reliability,
keyboard feel, how well it works at 9600 and 19200 baud, and what
kind of warts it might have.
They are offering the terminal for $400 until February. I am tempted
to get one to replace the Hazletine 1500 I use at home.
----
harold ravlin {ihnp4,pur-ee}!uiucdcs!uicsl!hrdavid@varian.UUCP (David Brown) (12/17/85)
We've bought about 10 or so tvi955's -- on the whole we're happy with them.
The previous terminal that we were purchasing was the Wyse 50, so I'll
make comparisons with that.
choice of embedded or non-embedded (space or no-space) attributes (magic cookie)
The Wyse can be tricked into doing no-space attributes for standout
mode if you use protect mode ( ESC) and ESC( ) and set up the terminal
to do protect=rev rather than protect=dim.
programmable function keys with unlimited # of chars per key (though there
is a limit on the number of characters for all keys). The Wyse has
a limit of 4 chars/key (8 if you don't power it off).
80 or 132 columns, 14" screen
I think that the Wyse is more readable at 80, the tvi955 more readable
at 132 (this is subjective), but both are acceptable. The tvi955
is not usable in vi (and other programs taht use termcap) at 132 columns
as it uses 2 different sequences for cursor motion, depending on
the column number.
Reliability -- we've found the DOA rate higher than other models
of TeleVideos (912 and 925) that we've used in the past, and
we've had to send several back for warranty repairs. My own
terminal seems to have a temperature-related problem, where it
loses its marbles (and part of its setup) if I try to use it
immediately after turning it on on cold mornings, so I usually
leave it powered on overnight (except long weekends). Some other
folks have complained about their terminals forgetting setup info
-- I don't know if those are temperature-related as well.
The first batch we received had some firmware bugs (REV A) (the
only one I remember is that the setup choice of down arrow key
sending ^V or ^J didn't do anything -- it always sent ^V). TVI
sent us some new PROMS (REV B) promptly after I complained.
(To do some the PROM Rev level, go into self-test (shift SETUP 1).
We run everything at 9600 baud -- no problem. We may have run
a few at 19200, but I can't swear to it.
Keyboard -- feel is heavier (more substantial) than the Wyse. I like it.
Alpha lock clicks on (the Wyse shows LOCK on the status line)
but doesn't always engage. Big return key (Wyse is little). BACKSPACE
in correct place (Wyse has DEL key in upper right corner, next to
BS).
Misc -- power switch and intensity knob are conveniently located (on the front).
Decent manual (huge compared to most terminal manuals I've seen; the
Wyse has one of the worst manuals I've ever seen).
Foreign character sets
Block graphics character set (does anyone ever use these? -- I've
never seen any software that makes use of these).
Termcap -- We use most of our 955's in 950 emulation mode, with the exception
of no-space attributes (turn off sg and ug) and ^J for down arrow
(I like to use the down arrow key in place of carriage return when I'm
reading news).
So I created a new termcap based on the 950 termcap. I also changed
some other things for personal preference like no status line
(set by is), no visual start or end sequence
(just stay in DUP EDIT mode), no visual bell:
vx|tvi950ns|no standout:\
:sg@:ug@:is@:vs@:ve@:vb@:\
:kd=^J:do=^J:xs:tc=tvi950:
Summary -- an excellent value for the money (I think we paid ~$400, vs. $525
for the Wyse 50), but watch out for flakiness, and too bad about 132 column
mode and termcap.
--
David Brown (415) 945-2199
Varian Instruments 2700 Mitchell Dr. Walnut Creek, Ca. 94598
{zehntel,dual,amd,fortune,rtech,lll-crg}!varian!davidhansen@pegasus.UUCP (Tony L. Hansen) (01/03/86)
David Brown writes:
< I think that the Wyse is more readable at 80, the tvi955 more readable
< at 132 (this is subjective), but both are acceptable. The tvi955
< is not usable in vi (and other programs taht use termcap) at 132
< columns as it uses 2 different sequences for cursor motion, depending
< on the column number.
< Summary -- an excellent value for the money (I think we paid ~$400, vs. $525
< for the Wyse 50), but watch out for flakiness, and too bad about 132 column
< mode and termcap.
It is precisely for reasons such as these that terminfo was born. A terminfo
description is quite capable of handling different sequences depending on
the column number.
Tony Hansen
ihnp4!pegasus!hansen