A1T@ECL.PSU.EDU (Andy) (08/09/88)
Ok some clarifications, additions, etc. Hope I can remember everything!
To Lazlo Nibble: I only meant that z-link and TIC had the best file transfer
of what I'd used, not that they support zmodem. I've only seen zmodem on
an IBM PC.
$195 is more than I paid for my modem. Doesn't sound like Pro-COMM is
a viable option.
To Pro-ATP'ers: ATP's vt100 emulation isn't good for me. The only VT100
emulation I like is Kermit's. If only kermit had a nicer user interface,
it would be perfectly acceptable for me. As it stands now, I use Kermit
95% of the time. What's the problem with atp's emulation? Well, there are
2:
1) The cursor key sequences - I ALWAYS need the escape sequences (esc O A
or esc ] A)...
2) When I'm using EDT under VMS, and I press the HELP key, Kermit handles
things just fine, with some fascimile of the graphic characters.
the picture of the keypad LOOKS like a keypad, and the pictures of the
arrow keys are recognizable. ATP gives me little v's and things. Looks
HORRIBLE!
so, since ATP seems to have nothing BUT emulation (so far), it's out of
the question.
To David Whitney: Z-link would be acceptable if you just put a directory
command in, and fixed up the vt100 emul. further. The same problem exists
with graphic characters as in ATP. I've fixed the cursor key problem and even
defined macros for a keypad (i'm using a //c, and the keypad is similar
to Kermit's) If you do this, you will win $25! (or however much it costs).
those are the most important things. The other features I can wait for.
To whoever knows about Mouse-Talk: Sounds great! I have a mouse with hardly
any mouse software. How much does this thing cost?
Here's a new feature: Autodialing... My modem is autodialing, but not hayes
compatible. (hey, i know, but it was free!) to dial a number, i have to
type AT, then it responds READY, then I enter the number followed by a return (the number contains characters like T and P to control the dialing),
and then it says NUMBER STORED and then i type A/ and it says DIALING.
then it either says ON LINE or NO CARRIER. Sounds fun to do with macros
eh! It is!!! I tried making a z-link macro, maybe it was too fast or
something. My modem only recoginzed about every 3rd character.
About quitting: No, I don't want to use a shell like ECP or davex. That's
just as inconvenient as the 'enter prefix
because I only have one drive here, the built-in, and i'd have to switch
disks. I'm not a fan of switching disks (the main reason I want to use the
/ram volume). OK, so DOS 3.3 compatibility was wishful thinking. I'll continue
to use kermit for DOS 3.3 transfers, whatever happens. I want to quit and
be sitting there with the little ]!!!!! whatever it's called, that's
what I want. I don't care how long the thing takes to load, I care how
long it takes to quit. OK? dont' destroy basic.system on me, quit me
to applesoft, and i'll wait the extra 10.3 seconds for basic.system to load,
and i'll sacrifice the 21 blocks. why does prodos have to try and be so
*&%#$ user-friendly! (i take it too many of you were brought up on
prodos and therefore don't know how nice it is to be able to quit a program,
jump into the monitor and change something (with the mini-assembler
in ROM) and then start the program back up, without having to load a
command shell, or any external programs, or anything. If anyone put
that feature in a modem program, they'd have my compliments, plus probably
some money, even if all it had was a capture buffer. (whoo boy was that
a tirade!)
leave anything out? hope not. oh, yeah... i've tried AE-pro, about 3 years
ago, a DOS 3.3 version, which was very nice. File transfer was limited to
plain old xmodem, but the program had an editor, macros (never did figure
them out), file-viewing, dos commands, dialing, support for all kinds
of modems, hundreds of options, emulation (never figured it out, either,
but then i didn't need it then), chat mode... it was a nice program,
but it wouldn't help me in today's prodos world. Apparently, the prodos
version isn't as good as it could be. I think the dos version was about
the best you could hope for at the time.
Andy