It is exactly that. . . a YMMV thing . . . My experience with terminals was
always a disappointment. I can't even think of a way to fix it. The people
who wrote and sold software made assumptions about what's out there, and, if
you used three different vendors' software, it was unlikely any of the
sophisticated features, including emulations, by the way, would work well
enough to use the same terminal in all cases. Only with the lowest common
denominator (ADM-3A) did one have a reasonable time of it.
Dick
-----Original Message-----
From: Allison J Parent <allisonp_at_world.std.com>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp_at_u.washington.edu>
Date: Tuesday, April 06, 1999 9:08 PM
Subject: Re: homemade computer for fun and experience...
><This is going to be a YMMV thing, but I've never had problems with normal
><serial terminals, especially not DEC ones.
>
>AS someone actively running s100 and assorted other cpm systems... A soft
>terminal that can emulate ADM1, ADM3, Vt100 and telvideo covers the crowd
>right up until you get some oddball code that used a 64x16 VDM1. The
>reality was no standards and it's really not gotten that much better.
>
>My solution... An H19 thats over 21, A vt100 (all others are broken),
>a few Vt320s and a Vt340. The thing is I also run DEC hardware and while
>they will support any ansi tube a real VT is still easier to use.
>
><> I have never had a desire for DEC hardware, mainly because of my distast
><> (and disdain) for their application of technology, and of course for
thei
>
>Personal preference. I happen to like them and they seem to run a long
>time. At least all of mine still runs and the 11/03 cpu I have has turned
>20!
>
><Don't forget that this started with somebody who wanted to homebrew their
><first computer. In which case it should be as simple as possible.
>
>therein is the essence of the string and why terminals are somewhat nicer
>even if they lack color graphics you can play doom on.
>
><> See . . . there are reasons NOT to use a terminal.
><
><Sure. Not every machine should use a serial terminal, but equally, not
><every machine needs a built-in graphics display. Which you build is up to
><you.
>
>I'll add you still need a serial line for a modem. Then you still need a
>printer. CPM being a nongraphic OS and there is a distinct lack of
>software that uses graphics for it... kind of a moot point if you can
>have a 1280x1024 color tube. I can say this as I have a visual 1050
>that has a rather elaborate display system and there is lttle use for it
>save for it can emulate a terminal at a cost of another micro, ram and
>firmware to run it. Nothing like debuging two systems and blind at that.
>
>Allison
>
Received on Tue Apr 06 1999 - 22:13:17 BST