john@moncol.UUCP (John Ruschmeyer) (04/30/85)
I have just bought my first IBM-PC compatable, a Tandy 1000. Since I am basically starting from scratch, I thought I'd pose the following query to the Tandy 1000 owners (and knowledgeable others) on the net: What software have you found that DOESN'T run on the Tandy 1000? I figure that this should be a shorter list than the "what does run" list and more useful since it tells me what to avoid. Any replies by mail would be appreciated, though not monetarily. If there is interest, I will post a summary to the net. -- Name: John Ruschmeyer US Mail: Monmouth College, W. Long Branch, NJ 07764 Phone: (201) 222-6600 x366 UUCP: ...!vax135!petsd!moncol!john ...!princeton!moncol!john ...!pesnta!moncol!john Silly Quote: "Oh sair, it was Kahn. We found him in an unlinked inode. He put creatures in our bodies... made us post lies, say things, flame things, but keptin was strong..."
john@moncol.UUCP (John Ruschmeyer) (05/16/85)
A couple of weeks ago, I posted an inquiry to the net asking for what software people knew would not run on a Tandy 1000. At that time, I promised a summary of responses; well, this is it. Six people responded to the original article. Unfortunately, most of the replies were from people considering the Tandy, rather than from owners. Nevertheless, a small list of software did evolve: Alphabet Zoo- IBM Version (Spinnaker) Buzzard Bait (Sirius) Mastertype (Scarborough Software) Math Blaster (Davidson & Associates) Murder by the Dozen (CBS Software) CopyIIpc PCWRIT Prowriter utilities (C. Itoh) Telios (seems to talk to the modem, but won't let me in on the converstion.) PC-VT Notes: The programs are arranged as follows: the first group are game/educational programs, second are copy programs, third are utilities, and last are communications programs. Most of these have probably failed for the reasons that programs usually fail on compatables- differences in video, disk, or keyboard operation. In the case of the 1000, it is most likely to be one of the first two. Surprisingly no "major" titles made this list. LOTUS 123 (version 1A- not the older one) runs with no problems on the 1000. Magazine reviewers also seem to have had no problems running most serious PC applications. A few pieces of IBM software point out one of the differences between the Tandy and the IBM- the keyboard. Because of the way the test to see what keys have been struck is made, some software thinks the 1000 has arrow keys on its numeric pad instead of in a little cluster. This should not pose a great problem for most and can even be taken care of by reconfiguration of some software. (Tandy also includes a device driver on its dos disk called "keyconvrt.sys". Supposedly this will provide an extra degree of compatability for some marginal programs.) According to reports, there is one problem with hardware compatability, the length of the board. The 1000 is designed to take boards up to 10.5" long. Unfortunately, many popular boards exceed that length. Any board which will fit in the short slot of the XT or in the Portable PC should be right at home in the Tandy. Conclusion: The Tandy 1000 is truly an IBM compatable. Except for a few assorted titles, it appears to have little troube with any PC program put before it. -- Name: John Ruschmeyer US Mail: Monmouth College, W. Long Branch, NJ 07764 Phone: (201) 222-6600 x366 UUCP: ...!vax135!petsd!moncol!john ...!princeton!moncol!john ...!pesnta!moncol!john Silly Quote: "Oh sair, it was Kahn. We found him in an unlinked inode. He put creatures in our bodies... made us post lies, say things, flame things, but keptin was strong..."