pjd@cwruecmp.UUCP (dr. funk) (10/15/86)
Product: ST-TeX
Vendor: Tools Gmbh
Kaiserstrasse 48
5300 Bonn 1
Phone: 0228/229791
Price: $150 ($5 shipping)
This is TeX, Version 1.5 for the ST [0.9x] (no format preloaded)
... and they aren't kidding. We just received a preliminary version
of ST-TeX which is being prepared for the American (English speaking)
ST market by Tools Gmbh. It arrived on six double sided floppies
consisting of TeX itself, a DVI GEM-based previewer, TFM files,
font files, LaTeX format and style files, and IniTeX.
We took two LaTeX files, a mathematical screed on timed Petri nets
and a pictorial introduction to digital system synthesis, and ran
both through without problems or modification. Speed with a hard
disk is roughly equivalent to LaTeX on a 780. If you are split
across two or more machines (and most of us here use an ST, VAX
and/or Apollo daily) you might want to standardize your format and
style files as I've noticed subtle differences such as bold
for description items on the ST and italics on the VAX.
The previewer is wonderful. The scroll bars slide the window around
a page so you can examine every nook and cranny. It is faster than
the Apollo previewer from Yale. Currently, FX-85 Epson compatible
printers are supported. The printed output is great given the 9-pin
head. Make sure you have a big print buffer though -- our standard
buffer size Panasonic 1092 truncates each line. Buffer expansion
options are now on order. Print time is about 6-8 minutes per page.
Tools Gmbh emphasizes that this version is preliminary and that a
newer version will be available near the end of the month. There are
a few problems:
1. The version received needs a full 1 Mbyte of RAM. If you own a
520, it's time to upgrade.
2. Directory searching is not fully implemented. Hence, you need
to drop a hint to the previewer as to the location of the
screen or printer files, TEX.TOS must reside in the same
directory as the TeX input and format files, etc.
3. There are so many files that a single DSDD drive system may
not cut it. A hard disk is strongly recommended.
Tools Gmbh is currently looking for a USA distributer. Since we're
nice guys in a hurry, we convinced Tools Gmbh to sell us a copy.
They do NOT encourage direct sales right now. (We had to draw an
international bank draft and Federal Express'd the order -- I said
we were in a hurry.)
This product is strongly recommended.
--
paul drongowski decvax!cwruecmp!pjd
case western reserve university pjd%Case@CSNet-relay