petersen@netcom.COM (Barbara Petersen) (05/07/91)
I'm looking for information about, and recommendations for, terminal programs for the Macintosh (I'm still using an old copy of Red Ryder, which should give you an idea of how behind the times *I* am). The three items I'm most interested in are speed, ease of use, and the ability to do some simple editing from within the program (e.g. open a file to download, change a couple of characters, or a couple of lines, then proceed with downloading). Any suggestions? Also, are the mail-order houses still generally the best (e.g. least expensive) places from which to purchase Mac hardware and software? Any recommendations and/or warnings? Or does anyone know of stores in the SF Bay Area that offer comparable prices? Thanx in advance.... -- Barbara Petersen barb@velvet.com
tmaddox@milton.u.washington.edu (Tom Maddox) (05/08/91)
In article <1991May7.052441.11709@netcom.COM> petersen@netcom.COM (Barbara Petersen) writes: > >I'm looking for information about, and recommendations for, terminal >programs for the Macintosh . . . Me, too--I think I'm giving up on ZTerm, due to my inability to get its VT100 emulation to function properly (and its lack of scripting, though that's secondary), so: Like Ms. Petersen, I'd like something easy to use, with scripting; also, background down/uploading and zmodem support (the first a must, the second merely desirable). I just looked at mail order prices--$83 for Smartcom, $214 for Microphone II (from Mac Zone)--and would rather not spend ~$200 unless that's the only way to go. Suggestions and comments? -- Tom Maddox tmaddox@milton.u.washington.edu "It is imperative to write invulnerable sentences." -- Hugo Ball
macq@miguel.llnl.gov (Don MacQueen) (05/08/91)
In article <1991May7.052441.11709@netcom.COM>, petersen@netcom.COM (Barbara Petersen) writes: |> |> |> I'm looking for information about, and recommendations for, terminal |> programs for the Macintosh (I'm still using an old copy of Red Ryder, |> which should give you an idea of how behind the times *I* am). The |> three items I'm most interested in are speed, ease of use, and the |> ability to do some simple editing from within the program (e.g. open |> a file to download, change a couple of characters, or a couple of |> lines, then proceed with downloading). Any suggestions? |> |> Also, are the mail-order houses still generally the best (e.g. least |> expensive) places from which to purchase Mac hardware and software? |> Any recommendations and/or warnings? Or does anyone know of stores |> in the SF Bay Area that offer comparable prices? |> |> Thanx in advance.... |> |> -- |> Barbara Petersen |> barb@velvet.com Well, I use VersaTerm-Pro and am very happy with it. However, it has minimal 'scripting' capabilities; instead you get good graphics terminal emulation in addition to text terminal emulation. I don't know exactly what you have in mind when you say |> ability to do some simple editing from within the program (e.g. open |> a file to download, change a couple of characters, or a couple of |> lines, then proceed with downloading). In my environment it is a text editor on the other computer that is responsible for the editing you describe, and how well your terminal emulation program works depends on what kind of terminal it emulates and what kind of terminal the other computer expects. In other words, don't expect a vt100 or vt220 emulator to work with an IBM mainframe, because vt*** terminals go with DEC computers. M.A.C. in Berkeley has good prices. Mail order prices are generally the lowest. -- -------------------- Don MacQueen macq@miguel.llnl.gov --------------------
stanger@otago.ac.nz (Nigel Stanger) (05/08/91)
In article <1991May7.052441.11709@netcom.COM>, petersen@netcom.COM (Barbara Petersen) writes: > I'm looking for information about, and recommendations for, terminal > programs for the Macintosh (I'm still using an old copy of Red Ryder, > which should give you an idea of how behind the times *I* am). The > three items I'm most interested in are speed, ease of use, and the > ability to do some simple editing from within the program (e.g. open > a file to download, change a couple of characters, or a couple of > lines, then proceed with downloading). Any suggestions? I use and heartily recommend ZTerm (version 0.85 if I remember correctly is the most recent version, but I might be wrong). It does full VT100 emulation and PC-BBS emulation, handle colour etc. It has X, Y, and ZModem protocols, and Kermit is supposed to be coming (but then, so is Christmas :-) I don't know whether you can edit from within it, I've never tried, but I suspect not. Certainly ZTerm is one of the easiest communications packages to use that I've come across (and I've tried several, including RR). It is shareware and comes with full documentation. If you have access to FTP, you can get it from sumex. -- See ya Nigel. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Nigel Stanger, Internet: stanger@otago.ac.nz c/o University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Phone: +64 3 479-8179 Dunedin, NEW ZEALAND. Fax: +64 3 479-8311 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- "If I had a quote, I'd be wearing it." -- Bob Dylan ----------------------------------------------------------------------
hoepfner@heawk1.gsfc.nasa.gov (Patrick Hoepfner) (05/09/91)
petersen@netcom.COM (Barbara Petersen) writes: >I'm looking for information about, and recommendations for, terminal >programs for the Macintosh (I'm still using an old copy of Red Ryder, >which should give you an idea of how behind the times *I* am). The >three items I'm most interested in are speed, ease of use, and the >ability to do some simple editing from within the program (e.g. open >a file to download, change a couple of characters, or a couple of >lines, then proceed with downloading). Any suggestions? For the best scripting and power, I would suggest White Knight. Partly because Ms. Peterson is already using RR, and also because it is less expensive than MicroPhone II (or whatever the latest incarnation is). I have found that these are cheepest at a my favorite mail-order house [MacZone 800/248-0800] but you should check out the others as well. I think that it is in the $80-$90 range. I use White Knight (at home) and I also use VersaTerm Pro (at work) because it is by far the best for terminal emulators (color Tek4051, Tek 4014, and Data General D200). It also supports Apple's CommToolBox allowing you to do Telnet, FTP, ADSP, and LAT if you are connected to a ApplTalk to Ethernet box, or you have a Ethernet board installed. VT Pro does not support Zmodem though. There is a third party that is building a Zmodem CommToolBox program though... and that may run another $55 bucks. >Also, are the mail-order houses still generally the best (e.g. least >expensive) places from which to purchase Mac hardware and software? >Any recommendations and/or warnings? Or does anyone know of stores >in the SF Bay Area that offer comparable prices? You should not be to worried about the big mail-order houses. Since you can cancel the Visa/MasterCard/AmEx bill. Most of the best houses also give you a 30 or more free exchange period. Get a copy of MacWorld/MacUser for the names of the larger mail-order houses. And with overnight delivery, you can get your package by 10 AM the next day! Not bad, considering the lower cost (usually). Mail-order is the best for people who know what they want. But if you want to check out the software because you are not certain what you want, I always suggest going to a local dealer who can usually let you try several types to see just what is best for you! >Or does anyone know of stores in the SF Bay Area that offer comparable prices? No, but I might be able to direct you to an EggHead store near Washington D.C. (unless of course the rioting has destroyed it...) --- Pat -------------------------------------> hoepfner@heasfs.gsfc.nasa.gov