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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!bellcore!decvax!tektronix!hplabs!hp-pcd!hplvle!drick
From: drick@hplvle.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Re: comparison of micros for upcoming pu
Message-ID: <7800003@hplvle.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 19-Dec-84 22:46:00 EST
Article-I.D.: hplvle.7800003
Posted: Wed Dec 19 22:46:00 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 21-Dec-84 07:45:04 EST
References: <5126@duke.UUCP>
Organization: Hewlett-Packard - Loveland, CO
Lines: 74
Nf-ID: #R:duke:-512600:hplvle:7800003:000:3539
Nf-From: hplvle!drick    Dec 11 19:46:00 1984

re: Morrow vs. Sanyo

1. There is actually more good software for the Morrow than for
the Sanyo.  That's because the Sanyo is not remotely IBM compatible,
while the Morrow will run almost all CP/M software.

2. At least here in Colorado, Morrow has a decent dealer network, while
Sanyo has nothing.

3. For word processing, my impression is that the Morrow is a far 
better machine.  A good terminal is far nicer to type on than
the sort of keyboard you're likely to find on the Sanyo.  The Morrow
disks hold more, which is a big advantage when doing a thesis.

4. Your basenote makes me think you have tried WordStar and don't 
like it.  I don't blame you a bit, BUT WordStar can rival dedicated
word processors such as NBI and CPT machines if you turn off all
the menus and use a terminal with dedicated WordStar keys.  The WYSE
WY-50 and WY-100 terminals come in WordStar versions and there's a 
WordStar ROM available for the Televideo 950.  I set up a word 
processing station for my wife using the WY-100 terminal with
WordStar option and she *loves* it.  She's never had to learn the
WordStar control sequences.

5. At least on the Morrow MD-11, the operating system supports function
and cursor key redefinitions for the Morrow MDT 50 and 60 terminals,
so you can get somewhat the same effect as with the dedicated
WordStar terminals.  You get fewer function keys, but they
can be redefined for other software, unlike on the dedicated
terminals.  I don't know if redefinition is supported on the
MD-3 or not.

6. Believe it or not, WordStar probably runs faster on the Morrow than
the Sanyo.  The Z80 version of WordStar is *very* carefully 
optimized. 

7. The software bundled with the Morrow machine is far superior to
that bundled with the Sanyo.  Note that the Morrow comes with 
NewWord, a WordStar clone with some real improvements such as an
undo key.  The Sanyo comes a whole slew of Micropro software, 
including WordStar.  Unfortunately, WordStar is the only decent
piece of software Micropro publishes.  CalcStar and all the
rest are horrible.

8. If you absolutely MUST have on-screen graphics, the Sanyo is your
only choice.  There are some graphics packages such as Graphtalk
available under CP/M that don't need screen display to work and
can drive a plotter like the HP 7470.  Designing charts with
nothing but hardcopy is laborious, but can be done.

9. Technical word processing is difficult.  WordStar doesn't work
well for this.  There are some technical word processors that run
on the IBM PC, but they won't work on the Sanyo, since the video
is different.  I'm told that they are all expensive, slow, and 
use LOTS of memory.  There are one or two technical editor/formatter
combinations that run under CP/M, but I know little about them.
Also, there is a technical text formatter in the public domain.
It's called ROFF4.  It allows superscipting, subscripting, supports
greek characters and can be configured for various printers.  It's
available on one of the SIG/M disks (I think), but these are 8"
disks, so you might have to pay someone to convert to 5-1/4".

10.  I can't help you with terminal emulation, but maybe someone else
on the net can.

In summary, I strongly recommend the Morrow over the Sanyo.  The MD-11
hard disk system is an excellent buy.  If you can't afford that, then
the MD-3 will meet your needs well.  Good luck.

David L. Rick
hplabs!hplvla!drick

"Opinions expressed here are definitely my own.  I don't know who
else's they may be, but they're undoubtedly not my employer's."