mark@gizzmo.UUCP (mark hilliard) (01/11/88)
Gasp! What? You think that there is no software for the 3B1! INCREDIBLE!!
Seriously, though, there is a whole world of commercial software out there
for the 3B1. Most of the popular software that you see on the IBM's has
been ported to it, and there is an incredible amount of business software
that few have ever heard of!
You must also consider the thousands of public domain (PD) software packages
out there on the net. I have compiled lots of these packages to discover
that they WORK GREAT!
Listed below is a SMALL list of software that I have installed on gizzmo
and used myself. I think that you will be amazed with some of the titles!
I will not provide prices, that is not the purpose of this article.
Rather, I am trying to show that there is lot of support for the 3b1
(both hardware and software).
Word processors:
WORDSTAR 2000 (Very impressive)
SMART SYSTEM
MICROSOFT WORD
EROFF (This is a electronic publishing
system that includes dwb 2.0, troff
lots of macros and drivers for the
HP and POSTSCRIPT families of laser
printers. It is an incredible system.)
emacs (PD)
TeX (PD)
Graphics:
PAINT POWER (This is like PC PAINT or MAC PAINT. it
is a VERY nice system but will only
output to a laser or dot printer.)
SOUND PRESENTATIONS (Very sharp drawing system that
supports printers and plotters.)
ATT GRAPHICS
GSS CHART (Good business system)
Spread sheets:
SMART SYSTEM
MULTIPLAN (Just like on your IBM)
Database:
INFORMIX (One of the most comprehensive systems
for the 3B1)
DBASE III
SMART SYSTEM
FILE IT
Development:
SVS PASCAL
SVS FORTRAN
SVS COBOL
MICROSOFT BASIC
MICROSOFT BASIC COMPILIER
lisp (PD)
fourth (PD)
Accounting:
BACS GENERAL LEDGER
BACS ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
BACS ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
BACS PAYROLL
BACS INVENTORY ENTRY
Now, there are lots of hardware upgrades including the ones that everyone
knows about like memory. There are voice systems, tape systems and bus
expansion units.
The 3B1 (7300) is one of the best thought out desk top UNIX systems to have
ever hit the market. The recent prices have made it a steal. I believe
that there will be LOTS of support for it for many years to come. If you
know of other software of hardware enhancements, send me a note. I will
make a list and post it.
--
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{mhuxu,u1100a}-----\
Mark Hilliard seismo!rochester!kodak!gizzmo!mark
N2HHR {ethos,fthood}-----/wtm@neoucom.UUCP (Bill Mayhew) (01/11/88)
After having read up on laser printers, it seems like postscript or postscipt-compatible printers offer the greatest flexiblility in doing computerized typography. It would appear that having scalable fonts is a big advantage offered by the postscript page description language. It would appear that paying a little more up font for such a printer actually saves money later by not having to buy a bunch of font cartridges, and you aren't limited to the point sizes given to you in the cartridge. So... I'm getting ready to start shopping around for a printer. Next question. Is there a (di)troff available for the 3b1 that can communicate via an output filter to a postscript (or some other similar page layout language) printer. Is there anything in the AT&T toolchest? I've heard a package called "eroff" mentioned, but I haven't found it in the software catalogs I have. Does anybody know from whence eroff comes? Thanks, --Bill
jlo@elan.UUCP (Jeff Lo) (01/14/88)
in article <930@neoucom.UUCP>, wtm@neoucom.UUCP (Bill Mayhew) says: > Next question. Is there a (di)troff available for the 3b1 that can > communicate via an output filter to a postscript (or some other > similar page layout language) printer. Is there anything in the > AT&T toolchest? I've heard a package called "eroff" mentioned, but > I haven't found it in the software catalogs I have. Does anybody > know from whence eroff comes? > > Thanks, > --Bill Elan Computer Group, Inc. sells a package called EROFF which is the AT&T Documenter's WorkBench (DWB), including device independent troff, nroff, tbl, eqn, pic, grap, macros, etc., plus bug fixes and enhancements including bitmap graphics inclusion, and drivers for the HP LaserJet line of printers and PostScript printers (an Imagen driver is also available). Automatic HP Soft Font downloading is done for the LaserJets. DWB and the printer drivers are also available separately. All of this is available on dozens of different UNIX machines and under MS-DOS. Our soft copy screen previewer EVIEW is available for Suns under SunView, many systems under X-Windows V10.R4, and support for X11 is in progress. All of DWB 2.0 and EROFF's enhancements are supported by EVIEW. Please write or call for more information. Jeff Lo Elan Computer Group, Inc. 410 Cambridge Avenue, Suite A Palo Alto, CA 94306 (415) 322-2450 ..!{ames,hplabs}!elan!jlo -- Jeff Lo ..!{ames,hplabs}!elan!jlo Elan Computer Group, Inc. 410 Cambridge Avenue, Suite A, Palo Alto, CA 94306, (415) 322-2450
mark@gizzmo.UUCP (mark hilliard) (01/14/88)
In article <930@neoucom.UUCP> wtm@neoucom.UUCP (Bill Mayhew) writes: >I haven't found it in the software catalogs I have. Does anybody >know from whence eroff comes? Sure! I just installed it on gizzmo. It is a VERY nice system that has drivers for both PostScript printer, and the HP family. It handles each family via different filters on its output. It also comes with ver 2.0 of DWB. I highly recommend it. Beware, it is expensive.....~$900.00 with one family laser driver It is from Elan Computer Group in Palo Alto, Ca. Their phone number is 415-322-2450. -- :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: {mhuxu,u1100a}-----\ Mark Hilliard seismo!rochester!kodak!gizzmo!mark N2HHR {ethos,fthood}-----/
allbery@axcess.UUCP (Brandon S. Allbery) (01/15/88)
A few comments... Oracle and Unify are also available for the 3B1. (Accell isn't. Unify Corp., if you're listening: Please correct this! I would *kill* for a good DBMS on this thing!) I think I saw Progress available as well, but I'm not certain of it. If your previous experience is Unix, skip the Smart Software. If this critter's the same on PClones as it is on the 3B1, it's no wonder I'd never heard of it before: the only thing I found even partially useable was the spreadsheet. I've offloaded it and am willing to sell it for $200 to anyone interested... the DBMS is okay if all you're after is dBase III type of stuff (having used Informix, Unify, and Oracle, I can't put up with dBase-style DBMSes). Probably good for people upgrading from PClones to real computers. [ ;-) ] -- ___ ________________, Brandon S. Allbery cbosgd \ ' \/ __ __, __, aXcess Company mandrill| __ | /__> <__ <__ 6615 Center St. #A1-105 !ncoast! / ` | \__. .__> .__> Mentor, OH 44060-4101 necntc | axcess!allbery \___/\________________. Moderator, comp.sources.misc hoptoad/
erict@flatline.UUCP (eric townsend) (01/19/88)
In article <135@axcess.UUCP>, allbery@axcess.UUCP (Brandon S. Allbery) writes: > If your previous experience is Unix, skip the Smart Software. If this > critter's the same on PClones as it is on the 3B1, it's no wonder I'd never > heard of it before: the only thing I found even partially useable was the > spreadsheet. Well, we resell the Smart package as part of our software line, and on a PC, it's not that bad. It uses these DOS things called 'overlays' that allow you to load your main body of code, then load different sections of code *over* parts of that code for each major program you want to run. Gak. Ok, it looks like this: +>:| | :| | :| | :^----- 'Overlaid' code to turn the rest of the code into a word processor. | : | : +>: | ^------ 'Main' part of Smart executable, roughly 100K | +---- the code between the '+>'s is as big as the code will ever get. This make any sense? I hope so. Anyway, on the unix-pc, this wouldn't work. Oh wait. It *would*. Overlays are kind of like a kluged shared memory thing for DOS. I would think that Smart could be recompiled using shared memory. Anyway... under DOS it does all the same things, just faster and in less memory. The most Smart will take up on a DOS machine is roughly 130k. Gads. It's hard to explain stupid DOS klugdes. -- J. Eric Townsend ->uunet!nuchat!flatline!erict smail:511Parker#2,Hstn,Tx,77007 Just another journalist with too much computing power.| 'Hey, watch me ollie 'Girls play with toys. Real women skate.' --Powell Peralta ad.| this <whump>'
gregg@comdim.UUCP (Gregg Stratton) (01/20/88)
In article <300@flatline.UUCP>, erict@flatline.UUCP (eric townsend) writes: > In article <135@axcess.UUCP>, allbery@axcess.UUCP (Brandon S. Allbery) writes: > > If your previous experience is Unix, skip the Smart Software. If this > > Well, we resell the Smart package as part of our software line, and on > a PC, it's not that bad. Smart may not be too bad on the PC, but on the 3B1 it is unuseable. Creating a font that fit 80 characters in a *bordered* window makes it very hard on the eyes. All those little, tiny characters surrounded by a Smart window border surrounded by the 3B1 border makes for a very poor implementation of a product. Gregg Stratton --------------------------------------------------------------------- Voice (home): (415) 626-9619 Voice (work): (408) 943-2410 UUCP: ..!ihnp4!ptsfa!comdim!gregg CIS: 74036,2576
richard@islenet.UUCP (Richard Foulk) (01/22/88)
> Smart may not be too bad on the PC, but on the 3B1 it is unuseable. > Creating a font that fit 80 characters in a *bordered* window makes it > very hard on the eyes. All those little, tiny characters surrounded by > a Smart window border surrounded by the 3B1 border makes for a very poor > implementation of a product. I second that observation. It is an amazingly stupid implementation. -- Richard Foulk ...{dual,vortex,ihnp4}!islenet!richard Honolulu, Hawaii
edward@engr.uky.edu (Edward C. Bennett) (01/26/88)
In article <3814@islenet.UUCP> richard@islenet.UUCP (Richard Foulk) writes: >> Smart may not be too bad on the PC, but on the 3B1 it is unuseable. >> Creating a font that fit 80 characters in a *bordered* window makes it >> very hard on the eyes. All those little, tiny characters surrounded by >> a Smart window border surrounded by the 3B1 border makes for a very poor >> implementation of a product. > >I second that observation. It is an amazingly stupid implementation. That, however, seems to be its only drawback. I had the opportunity to play with Smart over the weekend. So far it seems like a very nice package, but, like you said, the font is hard on your eyes. OK, if we rule out Smart as a viable spreadsheet/database package, what else is there? -- Edward C. Bennett DOMAIN: edward@engr.uky.edu UUCP: {cbosgd|uunet}!ukma!ukecc!edward "Goodnight M.A." BITNET: edward%ukecc.uucp@ukma "He's become a growling, snarling white-hot mass of canine terror"