keith@panews (12/01/90)
I've heard so many jokes about SoftPC that I wonder if it a real product. If
so, could someone send me specs on the product? How compatible is it? (ie
Does it run Windows 3.0?) I would really like to know, because if it does,
I would have an excuse to get a NeXT instead of a PC-compatible.
Thanks... Keith
----
Disclaimer: YES, an IBMer said PC-compatible. So what. IBMs are too expensive.
NO, I don't speak for IBM or anyone else in the world. So there...cnh5730@calvin.tamu.edu (Chuck Herrick) (12/02/90)
In article <1990Dec1.003423.10078@panews> keith@ibmsupt.UUCP (Keith Mason) writes: >I've heard so many jokes about SoftPC that I wonder if it a real product. I have seen SoftPC run. I have seen SoftPC run on a NeXT. I have seen SoftPC run Autocad on a NeXT. SoftPC is supposed to be officially released in Q1'91.
keith@uhunix1.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu (Vampires R Us) (12/02/90)
In article <10561@helios.TAMU.EDU> cnh5730@calvin.tamu.edu (Chuck Herrick) writes: >In article <1990Dec1.003423.10078@panews> keith@ibmsupt.UUCP (Keith Mason) writes: >>I've heard so many jokes about SoftPC that I wonder if it a real product. > >I have seen SoftPC run. I have seen SoftPC run on a NeXT. I have seen >SoftPC run Autocad on a NeXT. SoftPC is supposed to be officially >released in Q1'91. I've seen a pre-release of SoftPC. It was even running on a '040 NeXTStation. We laughed when we saw the directory. ACAD? We launched 1-2-3 and counted the seconds to see how long we'd get into the spreadsheet. We played around. All in all I'd say it's at AT speeds. From what I've seen, it looks like finished product. -- Keith Kinoshita; UH-KapCC, OCS, Cmptr, Lecturer INTERNET: keith@uhunix.UHCC.HAWAII.EDU ARPA: uhunix!keith@nosc.MIL "All the world's a simulation And all the Sims and SimEarthlings merely players..." -William Simspeare
glang@Autodesk.COM (Gary Lang) (12/03/90)
>I have seen SoftPC run. I have seen SoftPC run on a NeXT. I have seen >SoftPC run Autocad on a NeXT. SoftPC is supposed to be officially >released in Q1'91. yes. They also plan to write an ADI display driver for their "video" system (emulation of course). The program actually runs at very acceptable speeds for drawing edit and conversion and should run well enough for design with the ADI driver. By the way, the rep. for Insignia told me that it runs rings around the Sparc version for some reason. I didn't get into why that might be. - g
anderson@macc.wisc.edu (Jess Anderson) (01/28/91)
For various reasons, I would like to be able to run PC
software on the NeXT (no gagging, please :-). SoftPC (a
software PC emulator) is mentioned in NeXT's third-party
software catalog, if I remember correctly. I also remember
reading that though the product is released for some
platforms (I've seen it on RS/6000s), it hasn't been
released for NeXT yet. Did I see something about 1Q91?
Does anyone know if Insignia (the vendor) is present
somewhere on the net? Does anyone know any other details on
the product (other than its reported slow execution speed
even on fast platforms)?
<> The most beautiful thing we can experience is the
<> mysterious. -- Albert Einstein
--
Jess Anderson <> Madison Academic Computing Center <> University of Wisconsin
Internet: anderson@macc.wisc.edu <-best, UUCP:{}!uwvax!macc.wisc.edu!anderson
NeXTmail w/attachments: anderson@yak.macc.wisc.edu Bitnet: anderson@wiscmacc
Room 3130 <> 1210 West Dayton Street / Madison WI 53706 <> Phone 608/262-5888anderson@macc.wisc.edu (Jess Anderson) (01/28/91)
To spare y'all and m'self: I've been given the Insignia
phone number and directed to NeXTWorld a'ready. Thanks to
all who wrote with the info.
<> It does not pay a prophet to be too specific.
<> -- L. Sprague de Camp
--
Jess Anderson <> Madison Academic Computing Center <> University of Wisconsin
Internet: anderson@macc.wisc.edu <-best, UUCP:{}!uwvax!macc.wisc.edu!anderson
NeXTmail w/attachments: anderson@yak.macc.wisc.edu Bitnet: anderson@wiscmacc
Room 3130 <> 1210 West Dayton Street / Madison WI 53706 <> Phone 608/262-5888glang@Autodesk.COM (Gary Lang) (01/28/91)
>somewhere on the net? Does anyone know any other details on >the product (other than its reported slow execution speed >even on fast platforms)? It's in beta. I have it. It performs very well (thank god I can now run Agenda). It runs faster on the 040 NeXT than any other platform it's available on according to Insignia, much to their and my surprise since it's available on the Sparc. The reason has something to do with the instruction set mapping which I didn't really get into. I don't care because it really works great. -g -- Gary T. Lang (415)332-2344 x2702 Autodesk, Inc. Sausalito, CA. MCI: 370-0730
eps@toaster.SFSU.EDU (Eric P. Scott) (01/28/91)
In article <2330@autodesk.COM> glang@Autodesk.COM (Gary Lang) writes: >It's in beta. I have it. It performs very well (thank god I can now >run Agenda). Not to mention hundreds of computer viruses the NeXT is otherwise completely immune to! -=EPS=-
anderson@dogie.macc.wisc.edu (Jess Anderson) (01/28/91)
In article <1240@toaster.SFSU.EDU> eps@cs.SFSU.EDU (Eric P. Scott) writes: >In article <2330@autodesk.COM> glang@Autodesk.COM (Gary Lang) writes: >>It's in beta. I have it. It performs very well (thank god I can now >>run Agenda). >Not to mention hundreds of computer viruses the NeXT is otherwise >completely immune to! If, as you say, the NeXT is completely immune to virus infection, then SoftPC could at worst introduce viruses into PC software on the NeXT, right? Beyond that, not in any way to minimize the threat posed by viruses, worms, and other invasions, it has always seemed to me that there was quite a bit of hysteria about viruses. It remains to be seen whether the excellent virus scanning and disinfecting programs available on any good BBS will run correctly under SoftPC, I guess. <> Conference: A place where conversation is substituted for <> the dreariness of work and the loneliness of thought. <> -- Kelvin Throop III, "The Management Dictionary" -- Jess Anderson <> Madison Academic Computing Center <> University of Wisconsin Internet: anderson@macc.wisc.edu <-best, UUCP:{}!uwvax!macc.wisc.edu!anderson NeXTmail w/attachments: anderson@yak.macc.wisc.edu Bitnet: anderson@wiscmacc Room 3130 <> 1210 West Dayton Street / Madison WI 53706 <> Phone 608/262-5888
Gerben.Wierda@samba.acs.unc.edu (Gerben Wierda) (02/07/91)
NOTE: Please do not reply to above address, it is bogus. Reply to Gerben@Rug.Nl or to comp.sys.next Can anyone tell me about the price and performance of SoftPC? It might be a convincing argument in my environment where they are afraid for any UNIX let alone something as obscure as NeXT... (performance preferably with Norton SI). There was someone playing with the beta release if I remember correctlW./ Thanks.
Gerben.Wierda@samba.acs.unc.edu (Gerben Wierda) (02/11/91)
Hi, I did not get any replies to my previous questions about SoftPC, so I am reposting it. Please reply to this list or to gerben@rug.nl I have seen some discussion on SoftPC including someone mentioning a beta release. Can somebody answer the following questions? 1. Do I need 2.0 or 68040 to run SoftPC? 2. How do I access function keys and such on the NeXT? 3. How does SoftPC perform (Norton SI?) 4. What is the price? Thanks a lot.
quark@asylum.SF.CA.US (Dave Hull) (02/12/91)
Gerben.Wierda@samba.acs.unc.edu (Gerben Wierda) writes: >Hi, >I did not get any replies to my previous questions about SoftPC, so I am >reposting it. Please reply to this list or to gerben@rug.nl >I have seen some discussion on SoftPC including someone mentioning a >beta release. Can somebody answer the following questions? >1. Do I need 2.0 or 68040 to run SoftPC? >2. How do I access function keys and such on the NeXT? >3. How does SoftPC perform (Norton SI?) >4. What is the price? >Thanks a lot. And the answers are... 1. You need 2.0. Soft PC wiil run on a '030 cube, but not as fast (ok, so I'm being obvious) as it would on a '040. 2. There is a menu option for any missing keys as well as Command key equivalents. 33. The best speed equvalant that I can give you is that SPC feels like a 286 at 10mhz on a '040. 4. $499 list, $299 educational. If you have any other questions, call me at 408-522-7600. I'm one of the NeXT tech support people here at Insignia. -- |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| - As soon as you have made : I am - - a thought, laugh at it. : quark@asylum.sf.cs.us - - --Lao Tse : and I have many opinions... _ ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
jeng@ecse.rpi.edu (David Jeng) (03/28/91)
Is it possible to get a demo version of SoftPC? If yes, then how? -Dave ---------------------------------------------------------------------- David Jeng ECSE Department Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst. jeng@ecse.rpi.edu ----------------------------------------------------------------------
quark@asylum.SF.CA.US (Dave Hull) (03/28/91)
jeng@ecse.rpi.edu (David Jeng) writes: >Is it possible to get a demo version of SoftPC? If yes, then how? Yes, you have to be a dealer. We do have an educational discount though... >-Dave >---------------------------------------------------------------------- >David Jeng >ECSE Department >Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst. >jeng@ecse.rpi.edu >---------------------------------------------------------------------- =-Dave -- |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| | Alice: Never look in a mirrior you don't know. | | --the script to Sammy and Rosie get Laid | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| | I'm sure that more people would share my opinions if I were to | | make them less obfuscatory. Yeh, right. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Dave Hull is: quark@asylum.sf.ca.us
cafe@cbnewse.att.com (richard.dib) (03/28/91)
In article <13798@asylum.SF.CA.US>, quark@asylum.SF.CA.US (Dave Hull) writes: > jeng@ecse.rpi.edu (David Jeng) writes: > > >Is it possible to get a demo version of SoftPC? If yes, then how? > > Yes, you have to be a dealer. We do have an educational discount > though... > What about Registered Developers? Can we get it? Richard Dib
rjv21207@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Randal John Vose) (05/04/91)
Yet another question from a future NeXT owner:
I've read articles and seen references to "Soft PC" for the NeXT. Does this
program really live up to it's name? (sorry if I'm repeating something that
was already discussed...)
Also-- thanks to everyone who mailed me about their Slab purchase---
you've all been really helpful and I'll let you know what I ultimately decide
on ordering...
Randy Vose
rjv21207@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Internet)
rvose@sumter.cs.uiuc.edu (NeXTmail)
University of Illinois
Urbana/Champaignmikec@wam.umd.edu (Michael D. Callaghan) (05/04/91)
In article <1991May3.184530.19369@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> rjv21207@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Randal John Vose) writes: >Yet another question from a future NeXT owner: > >I've read articles and seen references to "Soft PC" for the NeXT. Does this >program really live up to it's name? (sorry if I'm repeating something that >was already discussed...) > >Also-- thanks to everyone who mailed me about their Slab purchase--- >you've all been really helpful and I'll let you know what I ultimately decide >on ordering... > > > Randy Vose >rjv21207@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Internet) > rvose@sumter.cs.uiuc.edu (NeXTmail) > University of Illinois > Urbana/Champaign The only gripe I have is that I can't get it to print! For awhile, sending output to /tmp/dosOUT worked fine. Then you just had to lpr /tmp/dosOUT when you were done with your SoftPC session. Now, however, I cannot get it to output ANYTHING. Calls to Insigna Solutions have been met with "No one available now. Can someone return your call?" Well, I'm not sure. I'm going to call again right now. If anything positive happens, I'll definitely post it. Other than the printing, I love the program! MikeC -- --------------------------------------------------------- Michael D. Callaghan, MDC Designs, University of Maryland --------------------------------------------------------- - Celibacy is a curable condition -
tim@aplcen.apl.jhu.edu (Tim Pugh 776-5253) (05/08/91)
mikec@wam.umd.edu (Michael D. Callaghan) writes: >In article <1991May3.184530.19369@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> rjv21207@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Randal John Vose) writes: >>Yet another question from a future NeXT owner: >> >>I've read articles and seen references to "Soft PC" for the NeXT. Does this >>program really live up to it's name? (sorry if I'm repeating something that >>was already discussed...) >> >The only gripe I have is that I can't get it to print! For awhile, sending >output to /tmp/dosOUT worked fine. Then you just had to lpr /tmp/dosOUT >when you were done with your SoftPC session. >Now, however, I cannot get it to output ANYTHING. Calls to Insigna >Solutions have been met with "No one available now. Can someone return >your call?" Well, I'm not sure. >I'm going to call again right now. If anything positive happens, I'll >definitely post it. >Other than the printing, I love the program! Unfortunately, I must report a problem with the floppy disk drive. Normal operation provides for booting DOS from a virtual C: drive. On my system: 68040 NeXTcube NeXT Step 2.1 PLI SuperFloppy 2.8 (external) I am able to boot from virtual C: but subsequently am unable to access A: drive. I can overcome the problem if I boot from A: dirve using a floppy formatted with the system (s) option under DOS 3.3. Apparently, not all systems configured like mine have the problem. In particulay, the Insigna Solutions rep (Dave) has such a system but does not have the problem? I would appreciate hearing from anyone else who has this problem. Tim
uad1121@dircon.co.uk (Jonathan Tilley) (06/10/91)
I am thinking of buying Soft PC for my cube and am interested
in other peoples experiences with it I am especially interested
in running Microsoft Windows 3 applications, plus all the run
of the mill char apps that DOS is known for.
Does Soft PC have any major problems? (Lack of Speed or Bugs)
Are there any Windows3 as that will not work?
Thanks
Jonathan Tilleyjeffa@janderholm.lotus.com (Jeff Anderholm) (06/15/91)
In article <1991Jun10.115642.8956@dircon.co.uk> uad1121@dircon.co.uk (Jonathan Tilley) writes: > > I am thinking of buying Soft PC for my cube and am interested > in other peoples experiences with it I am especially interested > in running Microsoft Windows 3 applications, plus all the run > of the mill char apps that DOS is known for. > Does Soft PC have any major problems? (Lack of Speed or Bugs) > Are there any Windows3 as that will not work? > Thanks > Jonathan Tilley I've found that Windows runs fairly slow in the SoftPC window. This really should be no surprise, as SoftPC is "advertised" as having AT-class equiv. performance. Most of the PC users trying to use WIndows 3.0 on 286 machines are not satisfied with performance.