kushnier@NADC.ARPA (R. Kushnier) (04/21/89)
Does anyone know how to get onto the Prodigy Information System using PC Ditto? Ron Kushnier
Bob_BobR_Retelle@cup.portal.com (04/22/89)
Ron Kushnier asks: >Does anyone know how to get onto the Prodigy Information System using >PC Ditto? I assume you have the Prodigy Startup Kit.. that's the ONLY way to log onto the service.. a normal terminal program can't be used.. The key to using Prodigy with pc-ditto is *patience* ... more patience than I think I may have... even with 2400 baud data transfer, the Prodigy software runs very slowly on pc-ditto... If it appears that nothing happens when you first run the software (this is assuming you've already followed the installation procedure, typed in your local access number, etc.. to create the "work disk"), WAIT... (and wait)... eventually, after several minutes, the modem will dial.. At first, I thought the software had locked up, or perhaps it was addressing the wrong COM port... finally, I walked away in disgust, only to hear the modem dialling a little while later... apparently the software has to initialize for a while before dialling... Because there is no "Text" mode, screen displays are excruciatingly slow.. everything on the screen is mapped out in graphics... it took about fifteen minutes for me to read a 3-page letter of welcome from the system.. (no kidding.. I timed it..!), and each page is only about 8 lines of 40 characters each.. This is not to say that the service is bad.. in fact, it looks like a VERY interesting information service, especially at the price.. $9.95 per MONTH, flat rate... it's just not usable with the current version of pc-ditto.. Now... with pc-ditto II, that will change... BobR
ALERT-syscop-GEnie@cup.portal.com (Dave Ninjajr Flory) (04/29/89)
re Prodigy, I used it on an AT at work, after having the same problems described by Bob Retelle re speed on PC Ditto. Even on its native machine it is so slow I have cancelled my account. The PS-2 models may be fast enough to satisfy some, but as far as I'm concerned its a good idea that didn't work. Now if they would just write their software for an ST or a Mac..... or an Amiga or any other graphics oriented computer it might work...