Aqumix.1017
net.micro
utcsrgv!utzoo!decvax!ittvax!qumix!msc
Fri Feb 19 12:18:04 1982
IBM PC
	I am trying to connect an IBM personal computer as a terminal
	to my vax.  I have the asynchronous communications package from
	ibm but it is not good.

	It is written in basic and is so slow that the speed of writing
	to the screen is about 600 baud.  Also there does not appear to
	be any way for the vax to erase things from the screen.  A
	backspace code from the vax is sent to the screen as a blotch
	(actually it looks like a tiny ace of spades).  Also it uses a
	peculiar protocol for transferring files involving XOFF CR and
	XON CR which I think is going to present difficulties.

	Has anyone tackled these problems yet or am I the guinea pig?
	I think I'm going to have to write a new terminal emulator
	program which is not in basic.  Naturally I would be ecstatic
	if someone has done it already and could mail me a copy of
	their program.

	As to the pc itself, it is a nice little box and the
	documentation is pretty reasonable.  I have the color graphics
	controller, the epson printer and controller, a second disk
	drive, an async comms. card and full expansion of the memory on
	the mother board.

	A word of warning: don't buy one from computerland.  Mine was
	ordered on November 6 last year.  In January I received a cpu
	and a keyboard with the color graphics card and the async
	comms. card.  A b/w monitor and its controller were also
	ordered but have yet to arrive.  We didn't even get a PC-DOS
	disk with the initial order.  We had to badger our local
	computerland into copying one of their disks for us.  The
	printer didn't arrive until a few days later and the second
	disk drive only arrived two days ago.  A 64k memory expansion
	card has yet to arrive.  Of course I really don't know if
	the problems are ibm's or computerland's.  You have to make
	up your own mind.

	In short the pc was completely unusable when first delivered
	due to missing key components.

	Mark Callow
	(decvax!ittvax!qumix!msc)

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