craig.umcp-cs@UDel-Relay@sri-unix (10/21/82)
From: Craig Stanfill <craig.umcp-cs@UDel-Relay> I am currently using a Tektronix 4025 terminal. In many respects, it is a thoroughly awful terminal - if you have ever used the thing, you understand. However, it does have four very useful features: 1. Programmable keys. The 4025 is well provided with special function keys, which can be programmed to send arbitrary text to the host. 2. Large scrolling region 'above the screen'. When using the terminal as a 'glass tty', the last hundred or so lines of text will be retained. 3. Hardcopy device. If you really want to, you can take hardcopies from the screen/scrolling region. 4. Convenient editing of screen contents. You can move around on the screen, reverse the scroll, delete lines etc. with minimal trouble. The result of these features is that I have the best of both worlds - both hardcopy and screen functions. On the one hand, it is possible to run a screen editor on the terminal. (I refuse to work with a non-screen editor - I guess I'm thoroughly spoiled). On the other hand, when I am doing non-editor tasks (running lisp, the shell, debugging programs), the teminal usually retains the last 5-10 minute's work. I find that I am constantly refering to the region above the screen. I use this region for three purposes: 1. Refering back to what I have just done. 2. Holding output longer than one page. For example, if I list my files, one to a line, and I have more than one screen's worth of files, it is very convenient to let the information scroll off the top of the screen and look at it later. 3. Scratchpad. I can, for example, list all my files then erase (from the screen) any files I am not interested in. Impossible on hardcopy terminals. In summary, I find that a hybrid terminal, which supports screen functions yet keeps old scrolled information, to be extremely useful.
FJW@MIT-MC@sri-unix (10/22/82)
From: Frank J. Wancho <FJW at MIT-MC> The one respect that our TEK4025 is awful is that our version of the PROM doesn't appear to be fast enough to handle incoming cursor commands while I type outgoing characters. Do you know if that misfeature has been fixed in any later release? One reason I suspect for its slowness is the long sequences of cursor commands it is designed to accept. Another, I suppose, is the programmable keys - not only are the function keys programmable, ALL the keys are! On the plus side, that large screen memory can be used for prompted file transfers between machines on a clean line. The only other "terminals" I'm aware of that can also do that are the HP2648A, the TI-765, and the Computer Devices MiniTerm, if ordered with that option. The HP doesn't have nearly enough memory as the TEK to make that review capability reasonable, and the long persistence of the TEK's phosphor is annoying. Both the HP and the TEK are last resort terminals - I prefer to use the good ole ADM3A sitting next to the HP when there's a choice... --Frank
clemc@sri-unix (10/23/82)
#R:sri-unix:-396100:ucbcad:19200001:000:3057 ucbcad!clemc Oct 23 14:44:00 1982 The Tek 4025A is a newer version for the 4025 and there is an upgrade for the old ones. This is a new CPU board that runs a 12 Meg 8085 (I think). The key is that is can handle 9600 without handshaking. (Call your salesman for details). At one time, there was an "Custom Mod" that fixed the the "design feature" of the cursor movement bug. (which I contend is a bug), I never knew the details and it may have never been released. Again, ask you salesman to check with Tek Custom Mods for that "fix". I had a Tek4025 on my desk for 2.5 years when I was in industry and here at UCB I had to use both a HP2648 and a HP2621 terminal (I later conned UCB into letting be get an AAA so I did not have to use the HP's). The HP's are deploriable for different reasons, but the 4025 was described as "Funky" by a few others. The major good features of the 4025 are: A completely professional keyboard. You can touch type on it. The attention to detail (like indenting the home keys a little more and "stronger" spring in the key for ERASE and BREAK so you can tell them for the others) is amazing. I've never used a better keyboard on a computer terminal. A FULLY programmable keyboard. The key here is that not one key is special (unlike the AAA). All keys are programmable. This is really handy. I used to run a "CU" like program that used "^D" as the quit character. I can reprogram my ^D key to be a \^D (so It sent through) and then another key (like the ZERO key on the keypad) to be ^D so I could exit). Then I had an "normal" keyboard. On a clear day you can scroll for ever. People have already talked about the scrolling feature of thsi terminal, but I will say, how much I LOVE lots of memory on my terminal. The major bad feature will be described below and in an earlier message people discussed the "funky" cursor problem. The HP's have two major problems. But are different but related. The HP 2621 would not be bad except for the Software CAPS-LOCK key. (Which is further screwed because it's in the wrong place). A CAP-LOCK (or what Tek called "TTY LOCK") can be SW controlled: IF and Only IF: It is AWAY from the "normal" key possition (like Tek's in the upper corner) and there is some sort of feedback saying it's been "depressed" (Tek uses an LED in the keycap). The HP2648 is fine except "normal" folks can not type on it. They dont suffer CAPS-LOCK problems but suffer from other problems. The keybaord is loved many sloppy folks because it's very mushy. Us normal folk on the other hand... (I am being "cute" here). I suppose if I had never been spoiled by the Ann Arbor and the Tek's professional keyboards, I might Not detest the HP. The other 2648 problem is that the keyboard is not really programmable. (Plus its slow, needs HP ACK/NAK handshaking if you send continous to it). Now to knock BOTH terminals they suffer from one major (shared) problem. They are TOO expensive. My vote is for the simple, well thoughtout Ann Arbor with a nice quick computer behind it!! (My home workstation) Clem