Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10 UW 5/3/83; site uw-beaver
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!cbosgd!cbdkc1!desoto!packard!hoxna!houxm!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!laser-lovers
From: laser-lovers@uw-beaver (laser-lovers)
Newsgroups: fa.laser-lovers
Subject: 
Message-ID: <1794@uw-beaver>
Date: Wed, 26-Sep-84 16:55:59 EDT
Article-I.D.: uw-beave.1794
Posted: Wed Sep 26 16:55:59 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 4-Oct-84 02:05:55 EDT
Sender: root@uw-beave
Organization: U of Washington Computer Science
Lines: 35

From: andrew%ucbernie@Berkeley (Andrew R. Cherenson)
Reply to mark@tove
Re: Comments about Talaris Systems

I have had experience with the Talaris Systems 1200.  The  Talrais 1200
is really a QMS 1200 except that the PROM fonts from QMS have been
replaced with improved ones. You can select which fonts to place
in the machine, whereas QMS does not provide this option.

I have found that the people at Talaris are very knowledgable about the
QMS products they OEM. In fact, they seem to know more than QMS does.
They do have a close working relationship with QMS and several features
in the QMS QUIC codes were added at Talaris's request.

They support software and fonts for Tex, Latex, Troff, Scribe and MASS-11 
on VMS, UNIX and TOPS-10(or 20?) systems. For Tex, they have over 70 fonts
available. I understand they are working on a font daemon for VMS and have 
one already for UNIX.  They also supply a CALCOMP-compatible plotting 
package and an integrated text/graphics program called QDRIVE (which is
expensive, ~$10K, but powerful). Their software support is responsive --
they welcome feedback on their software.

They can put any font into a PROM. QMS also has PROM fonts but QMS charges
about $250 vs $100 for Talaris and Talaris fits more fonts into a PROM than
QMS. If you got the $$, they will use 64K PROMS so you put a large number 
of fonts on the machine (e.g. most TeX fonts).  They also provide some 
hardware support and can make custom fonts.  You can purchase their software 
separately from the hardware but you pay more for it.

These observations are based on my experience over the past year, though
some of my price information is probably out-of-date.  Overall, I'd say 
the quality of their product is excellent.


				Andy Cherenson