iav1917%ritcv@cs.rit.edu (alan i. vymetalik) (02/18/90)
17 Feb 1990
Hi Folks,
OK. Where are all the Rainbow owners using MS-Windows V2.11????
(No flames. Just the people with a similar setup need to respond.)
Let's get together on this topic. E-mails are fine to avoid too
much traffic on this newsgroup (sarcasm implied).
I just finishing installing V2.11 on my Rainbow/80286 Friday night.
Just one word:
Wow!
I am QUITE impressed at the combined efforts of Suitable Solutions
with their 80286 board and marketing efforts as well as Leonard Berk's
excellent work of putting together a RB adaptation kit for MS-Windows.
Both will be receiving personal letters from me in the near term.
I've had the '286 board for quite a while now, but I only recently
broke down and bought Windows (Suitable's 7% off sale was the thing that
kicked me over). I bought the Adaptation kit from Suitable and MS
Windows/286 V2.11 from another vendor (the price difference MAY NOT be
not enough of a difference to avoid buying the whole package from
Suitable for SOME people -- if you have a Microsoft mouse (or 100%
compatible, not the Logitech C7), it MAY be cheaper to work it the
way I did. I ran into some problems during installation which
involved my PC-Rainbow-transferred version of the Windows software to
RX50s. The diskettes weren't in the right configuration for the kit's
Install procedure (I don't know the correct configuration). But,
Mr. Berk quickly guided me along another route and I had Windows up
and running about an hour later. It's NOT painless, unless you buy
the WHOLE package from Suitable. I just wanted to make that clear.
If you want Windows, but you're feeling a little sheepish with your
machine, buy everything you need from Suitable. They support Windows
for RX50s and the I-Drive (360K and 720K 3.5").
About Windows... Here's an interesting story about my purchase of
Windows/286. This newsgroup is about the only place (outside close
friends) that would find this interesting. It has a happy ending.
I purchased Windows from ******* (name deleted to prevent a "run on
orders"). I ordered specifically Windows/286 V2.11 for $65.00 plus
shipping. Sounded like a good deal. When it arrived via UPS, I
opened it. After checking the company's inventory tag with the
invoice, I quickly opened the Windows package. But, guess what I
found...
Lo and behold, I had received the "Microsoft Mouse & Microsoft
Windows/286" package instead. I triple checked the catalog, invoice,
and inventory tag and came to the conclusion that three things were
messed up: the company's catalog -- the part number is what is in
the catalog and it's what I ordered, but the description didn't
match, the company's database -- for being out of whack on the
part number, description, and price per unit, and the shipping/
receiving/quality assurance person or persons who were sound asleep when
they shipped me the package. (This isn't really fair since shipping
clerks get an invoice, grab the maching part, and just ship. They're
not paid to think. But, something should have raised a flag. This
is a $235 package (or so) normally!
Well, I was in a bit of a moral dilema. I had just "committed the
perfect crime," if you'll allow me to get dramatic. The company
believes they shipped me what I said I ordered and received the price
required. But, I couldn't stand it and I called them the next day.
(I had already opened the software because the packaging said
V2.1, not 2.11, but the 2.11 software was on the disk anyway. Gotta
love Microsoft). After two short phone calls, I was told to keep
the mouse! Yeah! Brand-spanking new Microsoft Mouse II for free!
This made up for many bad feelings about the Rainbow (from others)
over the years. Hmm, I should have called back and ordered six
more packages first. Silly me! It seems I sent them into a state of
frenzy. No one knew where the error occurred. I suggested they
better check quickly before they ship a truckload of $235 software
for $65!
ANYWAY...
Windows is up and running and it is just amazing me to no end to
see Microsoft Excel running. (One other piece of software with
Windows was a complete demo of Excel -- only Help and large
spreadsheets were disabled (only 64 columns x 16 rows are available).
But, hey, so what? "Hot linking" and everything else is there.)
Slick! PC Paintbrush V1.05 for Windows came with it as well as the
standard stock of Window apps. I had a bunch of stuff from my
Version 1.03.04 days and quickly had the Fish, Globe, and V1.0 of
Reversi running as well as the 2.11 stuff. (By the way, the aspect
ratio of Reversi V2.1 is screwed up. V1.0 works better!)
Windows on the Rainbow lacks color and a few other minor items.
Mr. Berk says color is forthcoming, but with limitations (the
Rainbow can only do 4 colors in hi-res mode) to be announced.
He has also stated that a true black/white driver exists instead
of the blue/white driver. You'll need to talk with him and order
a Windows Support Contract (include updates, notices, a quarterly
newsletter, etc.), which sounds like a good deal. You do get
30 days of unlimited, free telephone support (you pay for the call)
to get you through the installation process -- if the need arises.
Like I said, you'll probably be just fine if you order everything
from Suitable.
Stunning. You have to see Windows running (you SHOULD buy the '286
board, it does help a lot). I had a dozen apps running simultaneously
(two versions of Excel, etc.). I was cutting PC Paintbrush graphics
into MS-Write files (now, I need MS Word for Windows). And, I spent
about 3 hours learning Tetris (I pulled two versions that some kind
souls posted to comp.sys.windows.ms.)
So, if there are ANY Rainbow Windows users out there, let's get in
touch. We need to share public domain software and support each
other. Yes? Let me know what you folks think.
Anyone still reading this newsgroup? Hello?
By the way, there's a BIG BBS (can't remember the #) that supports
a ton of Windows public domain software. More later.
And, I have a Logitech C7 mouse for sale. Any buyers?
If anyone wants the Excel demo program, send two diskettes in a
mailer (documentation is virtually non-existent) with return postage.
I'll send back an archive using DOS 3.10 Backup. The file is something
close to 620K archived. Microsoft provides "this very useful eval-
uation edition free of charge." So, since I'm not asking for anything
in return, I suspect I can disseminate the softare freely. One
restriction that I WILL abide by: USA Distribution ONLY. Sorry to
Rainbow fans elsewhere. If anyone else thinks otherwise (including
Microsoft, if they're reading this), please let me know.
Enjoy,
alan
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Alan I. Vymetalik, 2244 East Avenue #5, Rochester, New York, 14610-2518
USA, Phone: (716)-271-8528
...!rochester!ritcv!iav1917 -or- ...!rochester!rit!ritcv!iav1917
ritcv!iav1917@rochester.UUCP -or- iav1917%ritcv@cs.rit.edu
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