RCONN@Simtel20.ARPA (07/11/84)
From: Richard Conn <RCONN@Simtel20.ARPA> All recipients of ZCPR3 Phase 1 are now distributing the software. SIG/M remote distribution sites (sites away from the main SIG/M organization in NJ) could still be waiting for receipt of the disks from SIG/M HQ, but that is the only further delay I can see now. For those of you who want to acquire ZCPR3, your alternatives are many: 1. you can order disks thru SIG/M 2. you can transfer files from your local BBS if it has them (I've been told that several large BBSs in CA have it online now [perhaps sans all the source files]) 3. you can transfer files from SIMTEL20 if you are on the DDN 4. the San Diego Computer Society has a full set 5. the disks are available within XEROX and will soon be available within DEC 6. Echelon is distributing the disks in a variety of formats (8", Kaypro, Osborne) [all formats are uninstalled at this time] and Echelon includes hardcopy of the installation manual and user's perspective 7. ZCPR3 is included in sales of the Ampro Little Board and Ampro Bookshelf computers In a discussion with Frank Gaude of Echelon last night, Frank mentioned that over 700 disks have gone out so far in various combinations (basic ZCPR3 core, SYSLIB3, full set of 14 disks, etc). I have been getting reports back from the field thru Echelon, and people seem to be happy, bringing the system up, and no bugs have been reported yet. ---- What's Next? ---- 1. ZCPR3 Phase 2 is moving along quite smoothly. DU3, VFILER, and VMENU are now done, and they all run very efficiently in the ZCPR3 environment. I will be completing documentation on VMENU tonight and probably putting the final touches on MU3 as well. Once MU3 is done, it will be the last of the major Phase 2 utilities. All Phase 2 utilities will then go out for beta testing. I plan to review the system overall, fill in what minor functions I feel are necessary which I may have missed, complete the documentation on Z3LIB (VLIB is already done), get the beta test results and correct bugs reported, and then release [DO NOT ask me when -- I'll let you know]. 2. With the utilities done [or at least very nearly so], I can complete the ZCPR3 book and then the SYSLIB3/Z3LIB/VLIB book. I hope to send drafts out to various editors in a few days. My contract with the publisher [NY Zoetrope] calls for delivery of the first full draft by 1 Aug, and I think that not only will this deadline be met, but the draft they will see will be very close to the final draft. Once they start going, they claim the book will be out within a month! This we will have to see. 3. Echelon has been addressing the problem of ZCPR3 installation for some time now, and they now have working, unrefined prototypes of an automatically-installing ZCPR3 system. The concept is simple: too many people do not have source to their BIOS [political commentary -- boo, hiss, on the manufacturers] and even if they did, many would find the effort to bring up ZCPR3 to be extreme. For these reasons, Echelon is working on a version of ZCPR3 that installs itself with a simple command that can be issued at cold boot. I feel that the best possible ZCPR3 installation is done with BIOS modification, but this should be the next best thing to it. I don't know for sure if the project will succeed in terms of a generic CP/M [Echelon may have to provide specific versions for the Kaypro, Osborne, etc], but it does look hopeful at this time. Of course, Echelon does intend to sell this, but the cost should be minor. I'll let you know when this project is complete [which should be Real Soon Now (where have I heard THAT before???)]. 4. More and more interest is developing in ZCPR3 [political commentary -- no, most of the 1.5M CP/M 2.2 users are NOT out on a limb now -- new things are coming out for them], and I've been interviewed for three articles by various people so far. Also, if you want to hear some words about the Ampro and ZCPR3 from someone other than me, the latest issue of User's Guide contains a review of the Ampro which includes some coverage of ZCPR3. Several articles (and the book) should be coming out in the months to come. Rick