Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: notesfiles 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."