[net.followup] Spreadsheet summary V2

ian (12/09/82)

From: Ian F. Darwin, U of Toronto Computing Services
Uucp-addr: ...decvax!utzoo!utcsstat!ian

The following is a summary of what I know so far about spreadsheet
packages available on UNIX. This is a revision/summary of a query
sent out to the net. My comments are in [] brackets. Thanks to
those who responded. The major UNIX-operant spreadsheets:
Name	Supplier		Cost	Type of report
SC 	James Gosling	public	availability (2 reports)
VC	Systems Innovation	149	Vendor report
Suncalc	Stanford		950	availability
VuComp 	Unisoft of NYC	400-800	User report
Multiplan  Microsoft	?	<no reports yet>

[------------------------------ SC ------------------------]
>From decvax!microsof!uw-beaver!furuta
Do you mean spreadsheet calculators?  James Gosling has one he's put
into the public domain.  The name is "sc".  
[Furuta included the man page, which I have edited out - this is a summary.]

From: Jim Rees  <uw-beaver!jim>
James Gosling at CMU (of Unix emacs fame) has written a spreadsheet
program for Unix.  It is not a commercial product, so it is probably
not as fancy as you would like, but it is in the public domain and the
source is available.  I can send it to you if you want.

[Summary of SC: It's available (send mail to me and I'll
give you the sources). It works on Vaxen. It doesn't work on PDP-11's.
I've made several hacks trying to make it work; still not there.
I have contacted James Gosling and he had no ideas on why it failed.
Our 11/70 lint(1) had several pages of ideas.]

[--------------------------- VC --------------------------]
>From decvax!sii!wje 
This is Software Innovations, Inc. We provide vc for Unix v7, sIII, 2.8bsd,
and 4.1bsd. You may reach us at decvax!ittvax!sii!wje or at (603)-883-9300.
[Software Innovations, 440 Amherst St, Nashua NH 03603, U.S.A.]
Send your USmail address if you would like more information.
	Bill Ezell (wje)
>From utzoo!decvax!sii!drd 
Bill Ezell didn't tell you what I think is important
about our product--it costs only $149, no matter what
kind of machine customers use it on.
-David Dick (decvax!sii!drd)

[------------------------- Suncalc ----------------------------]
>From decvax!harpo!floyd!cmcl2!philabs!dal 
We just got a program from Stanford called "Suncalc."  As I  am  not  familiar
with  Visicalc  (or other Visi-clones), I can't comment on the differences, if
any.  I can say that it works (on VAX 4.1bsd);  underlining is slightly  buggy
on my hp2621, but this is very minor.
[The normal price is $950, but there's a trial offer which may be for
members of the Stanford Computer Forum.]
If you want more information, the place to write or call is:
	Software Distribution Center
	Office of Technology Licensing
	Stanford University
	105 Encina Hall
	Stanford, CA 94305
	(415) 497-0651
Good luck in your quest.
Dan Lorenzini 	Philips Laboratories 	philabs!dal 	(914) 945-6236

[---------------------------- ViewComp --------------------------]
>From decvax!harpo!duke!phs!jmk
[...] ViewComp, a program sold by Unisoft, Inc., 303 West 42nd St.
New York, NY 10036. Phone 212/307-6800. 
[Not the same Unisoft who ported UNIX to the 68000].
Prices range from $400 to $800,
depending on the system it is to be run on (PDP-11, Onyx, Dual, Zilog,
or VAX).  We have been using it for several months and are pleased with it.
The first release had several bugs, but the most recent release has taken
care of them and the company has been good about responding to our queries.
Mailen Kootsey, Duke Univ. Physiology/Computer Science duke!phs!jmk

[--------------------- End of Spreadsheet Summary -------------------]