JEFF@JPL-VLSI.ARPA (06/11/84)
From: Jeff Skaletsky <JEFF@JPL-VLSI.ARPA> I have been playing with DesQ for about 2 weeks, now, on an IBM XT with 640K RAM and the color display. I would like to add my comments: Positive: Quite a toy. It's fun to customize everything up the wazoo. Makes me wish I had a mouse. The windows work well, esp. with colors. The shortcuts provided are very welcome (close a window, switch windows, zoom/unzoom, etc). Once you get used to it, installing a new package and setting up macros is quite easy... just be sure to quit DesQ and save after each install, so you don't lose it when the system crashes on the next install (see notes on communcations programs) The macros are great. I've got it entering Smarterm, choosing the configuration and hitting the function keys to dial; I just watch. Providing the ability to edit the menus and create submenus was a nice idea. you can still interface with the operating system, although it isn't mentioned in the book. Just create a menu option which runs a batch file setting your prompt and path, etc. The provided "Agents" are nice; WordStar, Dbase, and Supercalc3 are the ones I use, and the transfer ability works well. I also use Leading Edge, Final Word, and ESP (a neat little editor roughly based on INED written by a guy from Rand named Bill Rodgers; $75, worth checking out) and these programs all do direct screen access: therefore, the only windows are full screen. WordStar, which I feel has a terrible implementation on the PC, works really well in the windows, and the mark and transfer does the ^KB/^KK stuff for you. The included DesQ Notepad is nice, and serves as an all-around scratchpad and text editor. I was a little disappointed about speed, too, until I boosted my buffers in CONFIG.SYS to the recommended 30 (30!); the program then ran pretty well. Of course there are some delays, but considering what the program is doing, I was not too put out. Negatives: Not the easiest program to install as a novice. The average user will need the most customizing, and I'm afraid it'll be the hardest for them. Installing and using communications programs is about the hardest. There is some help in the manual, but hard to find. I was almost convinced PC-TALK just wasn't compatible when I found something about tests for input and how to allow for them. Forget Smartcom II, and don't "put away" a comm program.. close it, or your micro will probably crash. Kermit works just fine, btw. It will absolutely not work with any ramdisk drivers I have, and will not even let me access my Flagstaff Engineering 8 inch disk. Apparently the driver uses areas that DesQ wants. Trying to run DesQ merely gives you the DOS prompt back, and there is nothing in the install procedure to warn you about this. This is major! Summing up: Yes, Quarterdeck has something here; they should develop more agents, but I think that DesQ could be a viable alternative to the standard way of using the PC (XT, of course: you need 1.5 MB just for the program) especially if you already have all of your software. Even programmers and hackers could use it, if they aren't TOO speed conscious (and I think they'll prefer to use DOS occasionally). As an in-house micro consultant, I work in constant interrupt mode. I like being able to "freeze" my edit or spreadsheet and format a disk for someone, or take notes on a phone conversation. Of course, we will soon be seeing Framework, which I suspect will work in a similar manner, but I hope that Quarterdeck will also reduce their price ($399 list) at which time DesQ will be quite a deal. "Try before you buy" will be difficult, I think, since you really have to *work* with DesQ before you know whether you like it. The jury's still out for me, too. Anyone else used it yet? Jeff Skaletsky <Jeff@JPL-VLSI>