Conference hydra::amiga_v1

>      	I. Communications, with VT100 emulation, scripting, and
>    XModem/Kermit suitable for Compuserve upload/download.
    
	See Note 705.* for information on the Smokey and Foggy VT2xx
    Terminal Emulators...Both of these are FANTASTIC!! (right ya'll?)
    The Foggy Version contains support for the A500/A2000 keyboards
    (Keypad etc) keymapping to look like the LK201 DEC's favorite 
    keyboard.  They support kermit and Xmodem, but I don't know if
    CIS supports either of these two...
    
    Well, hope that helps for part of it.

    Brad

    Re:  CAD/Drafting programs...
    
    Until recently, Aegis Draw Plus was the only real drafting package.
    It suffers from slow screen refresh and incomplete drafting
    capabilities, but is very easy to use, using full pull-down menus
    for all commands.
    
    Taurus has just released X-CAD, and it is now available on the dealer's
    shelves.  I haven't played with it yet, but a short blurb in Machine
    Design magazine boasted the fastest screen redraw of any PC based
    package, something like 3000 vectors/sec.  I expect it will be fairly
    pricey, maybe $400-$500.
                     
    Re:  Word processing...
    
    For serious use, there's WordPerfect.  The manual is about a foot
    thick.  It does everything except import graphics.
    
    If you want to import graphics, try ProWrite or Kind Words or
    VizaWrite.  Of the above three, I'd recommend ProWrite.  VizaWrite
    has received a bunh of mediocre magazine reviews, mainly for it's
    slowness, and the restriction to black and white graphics.   Kind
    Words is sort of like TextCraft with color graphics.  ProWrite is
    currently very strong on the ability to import color graphics, and
    a new release, due any day now, will be vastly improved over the
    current version.  You will be able to import and resize any IFF
    graphic, including 4096 color HAM images.
    
    The big problem with any of these WP/graphics programs is how to
    get the page printed out.  The current Amiga printer drivers do
    a simple bit-map screen dump, which looks lousy on paper.  You can
    always use some of the utilities on the E-net here to convert a
    page to Postscript for use with a DEC or Apple laser printer.
    
    Hope this helps.
    
    Ed.
    capabilities.

    "FANTASTIC!!" sounds like I ought to give Smokey a try.  However,
    I'm not able to logon to other systems in Easynet (being in sales,
    they only give us menus, no DCL access).  Is it currently available
    in PD libraries?  Is there someone in the Boston area or southward,
    that would be willing to get a copy for me?  Thanks in advance.
    
    PS:  If someone knows a way around this "no DCL" problem, let me
    know.
    

    I was pretty impressed with Kind Words...for the price.  It was
    selling in LA for $79 at Computernik.  It includes a huge dictionary
    as well.  It seemed to be a good all around word processor with
    simple graphic import capabilities and mail merge.
    

Re .3:

	Since Smokey and Foggy are for DEC Employee Use Only, they are NOT 
available on any PD libraries.

	Assuming the menus are All-In-One, you may be able to do something if 
you have access to the PD (program development) option.  If you have NOTES, 
you can try the SPAWN command to get to DCL.  (There is a way to set up NOTES 
so that doesn't work though.)  You could also ask to have KERMIT added to one 
of your menus.

    Hmmm. Here in Toronto, we have Eric Haberfellner and his Handshake
    program. It's the best vt102 emulator I've seen. Supports double
    high/wide, 132 columns, KERMIT batch, etc., etc., etc. And it's
    free (if you like it, donate a few bucks kindathing). I'm going
    to be in Boston next week from Sunday to Wednesday. Would you like
    me to bring down a copy?
    
    Pete Pinter

    Re .5
    
    	Are you kidding? give programdevelopment options to a >salesman<!?!
    
    	As to your other options I'll do some research.  BUT, assuming
    I must use sneakernet who could I see and where, to recieve these
    priceless, DEC Employee Use Only jewels.
     ... Tim
    

    Re: .6
    	Sure! If you're in Boston during the week give me a call at
    DTN 224-1657 or (617) 654-1657.  Howsabout lunch for your trouble?
    
    You must be going to Network U., eh? 
    
    ...Tim
    

    Yowser, eh!
    
    Catch up with you next week...
    
    /PJP

    All:
    
    	I must confess, I wrote the original note in this series somewhat
    prematurely.  I expect to be recieving my A500 sometime early next
    week.  I had a bad experience with a mail order house called S &
    S Wholesalers, Inc.  I was fed a raft of baldfaced lies regarding
    availability of the product, and treated rather rudely by the "Customer
    Service" representative when I called to make inquiries.  I suggest
    that you steer clear of this firm.
    
    But I'm tremendously impressed with the DEC-AMIGA community as
    demonstrated by these notes.  After leaving the original note, I
    spent 5-6 hours brousing around.  I get a good feeling that I made
    a sound decision in the A500.
    
    BUT...I'm still stuck on the
    download-without-DCL-or-suitable-menu-choice problem.  If you have
    any ideas as to how I might download from the wealth of sources
    on the net, let me know, please...(sob)..
    
    In any case...does D. Wecker's VT100 program support the A500 keyboard
    (in the way Smokey/VT200 does)?  I use a vintage '100 in the office
    and my only encounters with the '200 keyboard have been a little
    confusing.  The simplicity of the '100 seems easier to deal with.
    
    Back to the download question...If I can't download from the net,
    are there any dealers locally that carry the Fred Fish collection?
    Are there any in this series that are particularly commendable for
    a new AMIGA user?
    
    I really appreciate your answers.  I've tried to search for references
    in notes that might help me along, but with 1150+ notes, I'm getting
    bug-eyed.
    
    ...Tim  8^] 
      

    I found Amazing Computing's AMICUS #17 disk very handy for downloading.
    This disk contains several communications programs along with FIXOBJ,
    FIXHUNK, ADDMEM, and ARC.  One may obtain this disk from Amazing
    Computing for $7.00 (non-subscriber) or $6.00 (subscriber) from:
              PiM Publications Inc.
              P.O. Box 869
              Fall River, MA 02722
    (NOTE:  If you live in Mass., you have to add 5% sales tax)
    
    If you are ever in the Nashua area, let me know and I'll make you
    a copy of my disk.  There is also someone else who frequently 
    writes to this notes file who has a disk to get you started -
    Ed A. (I don't think I can spell his last name off the top of my
    head).
    
    Brad