BHUBER@ECLA.USC.EDU (08/21/87)
I will respond to some of your questions and observations. 1. Re compilers: I have APW C, TML Pascal, TML APW Pascal, and just received last night the Orca Pascal (from Byteworks, creator of APW and Orca-GS). Of the four, I strongly recommend Orca Pascal even though I have just had access for less than 24 hours. I have been developing an application (typesetting -- not desktop publishing) and started with APW C. It was very slow and cumbersome. I then tried TML APW Pascal and things got better, but I found several bugs in the compiler (rather they found me!) and TML is soon to fix them. I shifted over to TML Pascal (difference being TML APW Pascal runs under the shell only and TML Pascal is standalone), and was reasonably happy but noticed slow application code. I ported over the application to Orca Pascal last night, and it is the difference between day and night. Example: TML Pascal (assume TML APW Pascal about same): 18 seconds and 44 blocks. Orca Pascal: 9.5 seconds and 33 blocks. The times refer to execution time for my application using a test file. The block size refers to the execution module created by the compiler. Orca Pascal is an (optional) optimizing compiler. TML creates 'S16' modules and Orca Pascal creates 'EXE' modules (whatever that means?). 2. My machine is a WOZ Limited also. Apple has just announced a ROM upgrade which is FREE. Contact your dealer. 3. I am extremely pleased with my GS. I too wrestled with Mac versus GS and decided on the GS based on prior software investment (I had a IIe). As I view it now, I have the best compromise for MY needs -- a slow color Macintosh with backward software compatibility. 4. Re GS applications programs: Just for the joy of playing "MacDraw" in color, get TOPDRAW by Styleware (Houston, Tx). I heartily endorse running under the APW/Orca-GS shell. The additional flexibility is worth the $70. Be aware however that some applications don't run (read printer problems) under the shell, including Multiscribe-GS and TOPDRAW. Have a nice day, Bud