Article-I.D.: ritcv.240
Posted: Sat Nov  8 22:47:28 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 10-Nov-86 01:01:21 EST
References: <5276@brl-smoke.ARPA>
Reply-To: iav1917@ritcv.UUCP (alan i. vymetalik)
Distribution: net
Organization: Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
Lines: 128
Keywords: DEC Rainbow, comments to the DEC PC gnomes...

[The DEC Rainbow - the "Rolls-Royce" of MS-DOS 8088 systems]

   Ah, the Rainbow is getting some more mention here.  I am impressed.

In article <5276@brl-smoke.ARPA> HAAR%RCSMPA%gmr.com@RELAY.CS.NET (RLH) writes:
 > now to the questions:
 > 
 > I have a newly acquired DEC Rainbow 100+ running MS-DOS 2.11.

   MS-DOS 3.10 and MS-Windows are forthcoming.  Program announcements
   have been made by DEC.  Expect the packages to be available sometime
   early 1987.  Also, expect to see a Mouse/Thin-Wire Ethernet (tm)
   board.  Rumors are that there's enough real estate left to install
   a new version of the 8087 board and a clock/calender feature.  What!?
   A multi-function card from DEC?  Hopefully...  Rumors also has it that
   mice will run fine on the COMM port.  However, you lose your modem....

   To the gnomes still working away at DEC ..

   DEC?  Are you listening?  You're late!  About 2 years late.  But, we
   DEFINITELY APPRECIATE the effort!  The saying "good things come to
   those who wait" may be appropo here....if Windows shows acceptable
   speed.  Define acceptable?  Well.......

   DEC?  Also consider this.  If you haven't already, please PLEASE make
   sure you release the Graphics Support Library you have been working
   on for Windows.  Don't make the same gaffs as before...it's getting
   a bit late for that ...  A package that will allow as much access as
   possible to the graphics card is a must.  Have you folks EVER considered
   producing a new graphics card.  800x240 resolution is FANTASTIC but
   a bit-mapped system would definitely solve a number of problems.
   I know...I know...

 > What is a good source of public domain software for this? I have
 > Kermit, but would like to find utilities analogous to the good
 > PD software that I am used to in the 8-bit CP/M world. I am
 > particularly looking for UUDECODE, UUENCODE, ARC, and disk utility
 > programs. If these don't exist in PD form, are there good
 > commerical versions?
 > 

   PUBLIC DOMAIN!  Tons and tons of stuff.  There are literally 
   HUNDREDS if not more of DEC Rainbow-specific BBS machines
   running across this country and around the world.  The FIDO
   BBS/Network was the first major PC BBS/Network to be created.
   Log onto any FIDO board and get a hold of FIDO's history.

   I personally know of three dozen Rainbow systems all sporting
   from 10 to 100+MB worth of public domain/Shareware programs
   specifically for the Rainbow.

   For the utilities mentioned above plus WUTIL 2.0 (2.1 coming soon)
   which is a hard-disk formatter handling up to 71MB of disk
   space, check out The HitchHiker's Guide at 1-315-589-7361.
   The sysop, Fritz Howard, can help you get started.

   Other major boards (and, folks and sysops, don't flame me, I don't
   have all the numbers in my head) include:

      The WARUG (Washington Area Rainbow Users Group) BBS:
         703-359-6549
      The Bear's Den: 703-671-0598
      DEC-User: 412-469-2468
      Truk Board: 617-631-3304
      Midnight DEC:   617-787-3033
      Rainbow Corner (tm): 914-425-2613


 > Can you recommend good C and PASCAL compilers?

   Nearly all PC-DOS compilers will work just fine on the Rainbow.
   Excepting Turbo Prolog which has the annoying (but potentially
   useful) windowing system built in.  Turbo Pascal 3.01A is available
   for the Rainbow.  MWC, MS-C, Lattice, Dsmet, and CI-C86 are all
   useable and good compilers (I am not here to debate which one is
   better).  There are numerous languages which work fine on the
   Rainbow.  Nearly every language from BASIC to XLisp run on the
   machine.   If it's a PC package, it may need some help getting
   copied over to the Rainbow's disk format.  As long as the disk
   is single-sided (good luck, these days), the Rainbow should
   read the IBM disk (you may have to go back to MS-DOS v2.05 for
   this...seems there's a bug with the disk driver in 2.11 and up.

 > Is the VEDIT editor any good? I'd like a powerful, extensible editor
 > for program source on the order of DEC's TPU. Any suggestions?

   I have not seen the VEDIT program on the Rainbow...cannot comment.

   Getting close to DEC's TPU is SEDT.  SEDT is written by one of
   DEC's PC "gnomes" and is Excellent.  It runs on VAXen, PCs, and
   Rainbows.   KEDT is another excellent screen editor based on
   KED and EDT.  DED is a third decent screen editor.  All are
   public domain  or shareware.

 >  [long comment regarding my posting of DESK.ARC...deleted for
   space...see my next posting.]
 > Alan, if you are listening, where are you?
 > else I might try?  I'd really like to get this running.
 > 
 >         Bob Haar
 >         CSNET: HAAR@GMR
 >         ARPA:  HAAR%GMR@CSNET.RELAY
 >         PHONE: (313) 986-1467

   Well, Bob, that's a good question.  I haven't been able to find
   myself for years. ;-).  

   Need help, programming tips, software/hardware help, or just
   have simple questions, please post or e-mail me directly.  I'll
   be happy to respond.

   Enjoy,
   Alan

   =================================================
                                   alan i. vymetalik
   -------------------------------------------------
                              Prism Software Designs
                              646-1 Univesity Avenue
                     Rochester, New York, 14607-1232
                                      (716)-461-2446
   -------------------------------------------------
                                       Vice-Chairman
   Greater Rochester Area Local Users Group (GRALUG)
                      Rainbow Special Interest Forum
   -------------------------------------------------
   uucp:    {allegra,seismo}!rochester!ritcv!iav1917
   =================================================