phil@shl.com (Phil Trubey) (11/15/90)
Basically I'm confused about what do communication programs actually *do* in this brave new world with the Comm Toolbox. I mean, the CTB provides terminal emulators (VT100, VT320 provided by Apple), file transfer programs (KERMIT, XMODEM), and connection tools (serial, ADSP). What else is there for a minimal featured comm program to provide? A scripting language (for connections and stuff) I guess. Maybe macro buttons (ala RR or WK) to initiate scripts. But what else? It seems to me there won't be much to differentiate between CTB versions of White Knight, Versaterm, etc. -- Phil Trubey SHL Systemhouse Inc. (Internet: phil@shl.com UUCP: ...!uunet!shl!phil)
leonardr@svc.portal.com (11/16/90)
In article <1990Nov15.013928.8170@shl.com> phil@shl.com (Phil Trubey) writes: >Basically I'm confused about what do communication programs actually >*do* in this brave new world with the Comm Toolbox. I mean, the CTB >provides terminal emulators (VT100, VT320 provided by Apple), file >transfer programs (KERMIT, XMODEM), and connection tools (serial, ADSP). >What else is there for a minimal featured comm program to provide? > Not much. For many people, something like Apple's Surfer example program plus the standard tools offer all the features that they need. However, there are very few third party tools available so things like ZMODEM, Kermit, TCP/IP type stuff are not yet avail. >A scripting language (for connections and stuff) I guess. Maybe >macro buttons (ala RR or WK) to initiate scripts. > >But what else? It seems to me there won't be much to differentiate >between CTB versions of White Knight, Versaterm, etc. > First, very few of the commercial communication venders are supporting ALL of the parts of the CTB. Most are just supporting the Connection Manager in order to get system level support for multiPort cards and internal modems (and other connection types are nice too ;-), and Versaterm is the only one that is also doing the File Transfer Manager. But to answer your question....Here are some things which come to mind which will differentiate comm programs: User Interface/Ease of Use Scripting Data Manipulation Tools (Capture/Printing/Editing) Configurability (ie. Preferences/Settings) Enhancements (Buffered Keyboards, Password Protection, etc.) SPEED! Other Terminals and Protocols Since all word processors just edit words, why would you choose MSWord over MacWrite!?!? Because of the other tools it offers, and the way it offers those tools (which is why I DON'T use MSWord ;-) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + Leonard Rosenthol | Internet: leonardr@sv.portal.com + + Software Ventures | GEnie: MACgician + + MicroPhone II Development Team | AOL: MACgician1 + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + Leonard Rosenthol | Internet: leonardr@sv.portal.com + + Software Ventures | GEnie: MACgician + + MicroPhone II Development Team | AOL: MACgician1 +