wtm@neoucom.UUCP (Bill Mayhew) (11/12/86)
Hi, I'm forwarding this for someone who does not have access to postnews. A review of DOS-2-DOS follows: --Bill -------------------------forwarded information-------------- From princeton!seismo!ut-sally!mcc.com!im4u!milano!PKG.SPARKMAN Tue Nov 11 17:43:45 1986 Subject: Re: DOS-2-DOS To: ut-sally!milano.sw.mcc.com!wtm@neoucom.UUCP In-Reply-To: <320@neoucom.UUCP> Message-Id: <12254151381.66.PKG.SPARKMAN@MCC.COM> Status: RO I don't have a 68010 so I can't answer your question about compatability there, but I do have some opinions on dos-2-dos. What it does that the transformer should have done: 1.) RUN UNDER AMIGADOS!!! 2.) Transfer files between amiga format floppies and IBM floppies. 3.) Transfer files in either image mode (as is) or with end of line conversion (strip cr). I also have the transformer, but I find myself using it less and less as more software becomes available for my amiga at home. However, I still have the IBM at work and until dos-2-dos, I was at the mercy of the phone line to get files from one machine to the other. What does it allow you to do? Work on any text file (and think how much you do that is really just text manipulation) on which ever machine is prefered (or available). Reduce the size and improve the safety of your floppy backups. The 3 1/2 floppies are more compact, and are formated to 720K. You can compress with arc and save more room. Dos-2-dos will copy binary files I think. It says it will, but I haven't seen the need to try or verify that. All in all I consider it a very useful utility (which incidentally will give a list of commands for a "?") and it resides in my c directory. Aubrey Sparkman Write your own disclaimer here _______________________. -------
eric@ulysses.UUCP (Eric Lavitsky) (11/13/86)
Well, I think that if you're considering buying this product, you should wait. The release version of 1.2 provides utilities for formatting MS-DOS disks on the 5-1/4" drive and copying files over to it (I'm not sure about the other way around). This kind of reminds me of MicroForges' (a now defunct company as far as I can tell) Workbench Ram disk product - it was also a feature added right into 1.2 ... (sigh) Eric #include <standard.disclaimer> -- ARPA: Lavitsky@RED.RUTGERS.EDU UUCP: ...ulysses!eric ...caip!topaz!eric ...hplabs!well!lavitsky
andy@cbmvax.cbm.UUCP (Andy Finkel) (11/18/86)
In article <1468@ulysses.UUCP> eric@ulysses.UUCP (Eric Lavitsky) writes: >Well, I think that if you're considering buying this product, >you should wait. The release version of 1.2 provides utilities >for formatting MS-DOS disks on the 5-1/4" drive and copying >files over to it (I'm not sure about the other way around). >This kind of reminds me of MicroForges' (a now defunct company >as far as I can tell) Workbench Ram disk product - it was also >a feature added right into 1.2 ... (sigh) > >Eric >#include <standard.disclaimer> Actually, a ram disk has always been in the system...V1.0, V1.1, and V1.2. Just because it didn't appear on the workbench as an icon via V1.2 doesn't mean it wasn't there. CLI users use it a lot. Feature enhancement (especially the most desired, easiest to implement features) is always a tough call, subject to endless debate. I sympathize with anyone bit by this, but its tough for us to avoid fixing a simple bug, or adding a (screamed for; demanded by user) function to the system. (and if its easy and obvious to a 3rd party programmer, imagine how easy it is for us...(dir RAM: indeed !! ) I suspect that this is *always* going to be one of the dangers of being a 'plug compatible' software maker, no matter what manufacturer you are supporting. Evolving operating systems will tend to add features. (and we try not to release more than one version a year :-) ) I think that part of the evaluation of whether a project is going to be viable should be "How hard will it be for another company to do the same program or an enhanced version ?" as well as "Can we do it". Refering specifically to the PC DOS stuff...judging from the timing of the release, I suspect that their project and ours was underway at the same time. In general, though, those registered developers who have been getting our Beta releases were aware of the new features of V1.2 a long time ago... andy finkel additional disclaimer...these are REALLY only my opinions! -- andy finkel Commodore(Amiga) {ihnp4|seismo|allegra}!cbmvax!andy or pyramid!amiga!andy Any expressed opinions are mine; but feel free to share. I disclaim all responsibilities, all shapes, all sizes, all colors. "Remember, no matter where you grow, there you are." - Buckaroo Bonsai.
andy@cbmvax.cbm.UUCP (Andy Finkel) (11/18/86)
In article <1468@ulysses.UUCP> eric@ulysses.UUCP (Eric Lavitsky) writes: >Well, I think that if you're considering buying this product, >you should wait. The release version of 1.2 provides utilities >for formatting MS-DOS disks on the 5-1/4" drive and copying >files over to it (I'm not sure about the other way around). >This kind of reminds me of MicroForges' (a now defunct company >as far as I can tell) Workbench Ram disk product - it was also >a feature added right into 1.2 ... (sigh) > >Eric >#include <standard.disclaimer> < second attempt at a response...extra line added just because...> Actually, a ram disk has always been in the system...V1.0, V1.1, and V1.2. Just because it didn't appear on the workbench as an icon via V1.2 doesn't mean it wasn't there. CLI users use it a lot. Feature enhancement (especially the most desired, easiest to implement features) is always a tough call, subject to endless debate. I sympathize with anyone bit by this, but its tough for us to avoid fixing a simple bug, or adding a (screamed for; demanded by user) function to the system. (and if its easy and obvious to a 3rd party programmer, imagine how easy it is for us...(dir RAM: indeed !! ) (There was someone, not MicroForge as far as I know, who actually sold a script to start up the built in ramdisk. heavy sigh.) I suspect that this is *always* going to be one of the dangers of being a 'plug compatible' software maker, no matter what manufacturer you are supporting. Evolving operating systems will tend to add features. (and we try not to release more than one version a year :-) ) I think that part of the evaluation of whether a project is going to be viable should be "How hard will it be for another company to do the same program or an enhanced version ?" as well as "Can we do it". Refering specifically to the PC DOS stuff...judging from the timing of the release, I suspect that their project and ours was underway at the same time. In general, though, those registered developers who have been getting our Beta releases were aware of the new features of V1.2 a long time ago... andy finkel additional disclaimer...these are REALLY only my opinions! -- andy finkel Commodore(Amiga) {ihnp4|seismo|allegra}!cbmvax!andy or pyramid!amiga!andy Any expressed opinions are mine; but feel free to share. I disclaim all responsibilities, all shapes, all sizes, all colors. "Remember, no matter where you grow, there you are." - Buckaroo Bonsai.