8bitfiles.net/archives/archives.tar/archives/genie-commodore-file-library/Information/NICK-ROSSI-RTC.95

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<C> 1995 By GEnie

=================================================================

This file is brought to you by the Commodore 64/128 RoundTable on
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Newsletters providing credit is given in the following manner:
"Copyright 1995 by GEnie from the Commodore 64/128 RoundTable.
File # 17060.  This file may be distributed, if distributed whole
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300/1200/2400)  Enter:  HHH  Then reply:  XTX99018,COMMRT  Then
enter:  COMMODORE and enjoy ;)."

On Monday 4/24/95, the Commodore RoundTable was pleased to visit
with Nick Rossi - author of the infamous Novaterm terminal
program for the Commodore 64.  The conference was hosted by Eddie
Bourdon (E.Bourdon1) and recorded by Sherry Freedline (C128-
QT.PIE).  Read on for information regarding the soon-to-be
released Novaterm 9.6 and details on Novaterm 10.

Thank you's go out to all who attended, and a special thank you
to Nick Rossi for updating us on his work and for his continued
support of the Commodore 64!!!

=================================================================

Attendees:

1    WA   10  N  N.ROSSI       Nick
2    PA   10  N  C128-QT.PIE   QT
3    MA   10  N  CMD-DOUG      D.Cotton
4    OH   10  N  D.WITMER2     SNOGPITCH
5    FL   10  N  ANITRA        Anitra
6    CA   10  N  D.PHELPS1     Tim.P
7    MI   10  N  GEOS-TIM      GEOS-TIM
8    MA   10  L  E.BOURDON1    Eddie
9    NY   10  N  J.SCIORTINO   JOE

=================================================================

<Eddie> Hi Nick
<QT> We're glad to see you Nick :)

<Tim.P> Oh Nick, have you used my scripts?
<Tim.P> OK. Have you found the "bugs" I've mentioned?

<Nick> Which ones?  There are a few
<Nick> Refresh my memory

<Tim.P> Like the buffer or the RTS/CTS thing. You said you were
going to put an extra return in the command to see if it improves.  When using
a script and after a buffer save, and when issuing the next command of the
scripts, the program will freeze.

<Nick> Doesn't matter what the next command is?

<Tim.P> As far as the buffer, yes.

<Nick> And which part of RTS/CTS were you referring to, i.e.
under what conditions?

<Tim.P> Well, I mean when dialing phone numbers from the autodial
menu.

<Nick> Oh yes, now I remember.  Yes, I do plan to do that.

<Eddie> Well, originally this was going to be a formal
conference, but it will now be a semi-formal (sport coats and tie) instead. ;)

<Eddie> Ok..we are about to go to listen only mode.  Please hold your
questions.  If you have any, just type /RAI.  Tonight we have Nick Rossi, author
of Novaterm.

<Nick> Okay, I want to take this opportunity to update you all on my progress...
Novaterm 10 is taking a long time, and there's still a lot to do, so I've decided
to put some of the new features into an intermediate release that will be version
9.6.  There are some bugs and issues that have been hanging around for the last year, and I need to address them with a release... Some of
them have been mentioned already.  There are a number of minor new features, but
the main improvements that I'm putting in this version 9.6 will be...

1.   Optimization of 80 column mode...it's a little more efficient now,it can keep
     up with 4800 bps *without* scrolling (so I estimate about 500 cps printing
     speed).. but scrolling is still slow.


2.   A fast 80-column scroll mode that uses a RAM expansion unit for scrolling the
     screen... in this mode it can definitely keep up with 2400 bps.Throughput for
     higher bps rates will naturally go up.

3.   Using a RAM expansion unit as a big buffer, being able to capture directly
     to it, and download without the use of RAMDOS.  Along with that, the buffer
     will be preserved when you go over to the text editor, so you'll be able to
     load in capture files.  (If you have one of those BBU's, then the buffer will
     be preserved even if you lose power...I'm going to experiment with 'buffer
     recovery')

4.   More user-friendly configuration in the form of a first-time configuration
     program that leads you through the process -- good for new users...
     Everything else new is minor, such as an on-line timer in 80 column mode, and
     terminal emulation scripts that you can load from a menu (i.e. when you want to
     change from ANSI to VT102 or Commodore, pressing C= T and selecting from the menu
     will load ALL the necessary drivers)

<Eddie> Those sound great.  When will it be available?

<Nick> I'm pushing hard to get this out the door as I need to concentrate on a
new job for a while... but it is being beta-tested by several people, so hopefully any little critters will be killed off before releasing
it.. I don't know the exact date though.  (I never do until it comes...)

<Eddie> Sounds like you've been very busy.

<Nick> Yes..

<Eddie> One thing that I've noticed about Novaterm over any other term I've
used (including 128 terms) is that the ANSI translation is very good.  Any
plans to release a newer 128 version of Novaterm ?

<Nick> No, there's too much of a learning curve there for me, and I have my
hands in a number of other projects...

<Eddie> Nick, Anitra has a question.

<Anitra> The only thing I know about Novaterm is that it is highly recommended.
<G>.  With that in mind, then, how easy is it to use?  I currently use WIZARD for
GEnie, and no other Term programs. GA

<Nick> Well, I try to make it as easy as possible... perhaps someone else can
describe their experiences with it when they started out.  I've been staring at
it for almost 10 years, it's hard to be objective  :)  I focus a lot on the user
interface, especially these days as I've learned more about user interface design.

<Nick> Any comments?

<Eddie> I started off using Novaterm, and moved up from there. In my opinion,
NT is the best 64 term program available.

<Eddie> Tim Phelps would like to offer his advice about it.  Tim uses NT exclusivley.

<Tim.P> This may seem to be a dumb question <G>, but the size of the program
wouldn't have anything to do with the transfer rates, would it?

<Nick> No, not exactly... it depends on what you're downloading to.  There's no
fast-read/write code for 1541/71/81, so the disk drives are the bottleneck... and
RAMDOS is very slow accessing the REU... Using the direct DMA code I'm working on,
the transfer rates to REU should improve dramatically...

<Tim.P> Not only am I use NT exclusively, I'm a registered user, too. :) end

<Eddie> Anyone else have any questions pertaining to NT for Nick?

<Eddie> How about using NT on a Ramlink with native partitions?  Any problem
there?

<Nick> I've heard of none.  I believe direct access with RAMlinks is possible,
similar to the REU, but I would need a test unit and some specs to implement that.
It could be done, though, since the code is modularized as always -- just load a
different driver over the top of the existing one.

<Eddie> Tim Phelps has another question/comment

<Tim.P> I'm not too sure what FD-compatible means but is (or will) NT be
FD-compatible? ... Also, there is one FD command I type while using Novaterm that
always crashes the program. It's "t-ra" which reads the date and time of the FD.

<Nick> You mean compatible with CMD's FD-series drives?  I don't think there's
any problem using them with Novaterm... no one has ever said it wouldn't work.

<Tim.P> Yeah, that's what I meant.

<Nick> Oh, that's interesting... I suppose the output of that command isn't in
the common error code form (such as 00,ok,00,00).. I bet that's why..  Just
another assumption to be changed :)

<Tim.P> Oh, one more thing. THe autodial waiting screen doesn't tell when there
isn't a dial tone.

<Nick> Novaterm should detect the 'no dialtone' string from the modem.  At
least it does for me..

<Tim.P> Hm. I wonder if different modem manufacturers define the "no dialtone"
(as in putting a space between the dial and tone.)

<Nick> Could be.  You can try dialing from terminal mode with ATDT, take your
phone off the hook to force the no dialtone message, and see what happens.

<Tim.P> What modem are you using, Nick? end.

<Nick> It's a Boca 14.4, a poor modem, really...

<Eddie> I have owned my Boca for over 1 year now, with no problems at all with
it.  We are going to take a little break for Novaterm Trivia.  A one hour
GOT will be awarded to the winner.

<Nick> Really?  Mine won't make a connection with certain other modems part of
the time.  It spits up at 2400 baud modems on the other end...

<Tim.P> Sometimes I think they sell the poor modems out to the west coast. :)
Locally, the Bocas have received nothing but complaints.

<QT> Nick, when did you first start NovaTerm?

<Nick> Oh boy, I think it was 1986.

<QT> wow

<Tim.P> But the first "public" release was in 1989, was it?

<Nick> 1989 was the first time I had access to on-line services like GEnie.  That
same year I went to college and got it on the Internet.

<Anitra> I figured I'd try again when I'd  a) d/l the program and used it and
b) watched a lot more TV, to get the clues!!

<Snogpitch> I did a demo on Novaterm yesterday, at the local user's group.  I
had to bone up on the trivia.

<Anitra> NT is for C64, isn't it?

<Tim.P> Yes, Anitra.

<Nick> Oh, since everyone made it back on, there's one more thing I wanted to
mention... This isn't directly Novaterm-related, but it is somewhat...

There's currently a bill in Congress that will seriously affect the
Internet and on-line services, and local bulletin boards.  It's sponsored by
Senator Slade Gorton (R-WA, my own state, of all places!) and Senator Exon (not
sure where he's from).  It holds operators of on-line systems liable if minors
have access to adult-oriented material -- or whatever fits in the government's
definition of 'obscene'.

<Tim.P> I've read about that.

<Anitra> I've heard of that one.

<QT> If this bill is passed, what do you think the outcome will be, Nick?

<Anitra> Whatever happened to 'community standards' ?

<Nick> If any of you have used the Internet, you may realize that it's
impossible for an access provider to control the content of material that comes
in across the Internet.

<Eddie> If we go by Washington's standards, we won't have anything to worry
about ;)

<Tim.P> I know Exxon isn't from California. I think he's from the midwest, but
I'm not sure.

<Eddie> (DC, that is)

<Anitra> Chances are, though, some bluenose in SmallTown, USA will demand (and
get) control on the grounds of 'impressionable youngsters'.

<Nick> This applies to local BBS's as well, even though they do have more control
over content... still, they'd have to read e-mail and censor every 'obscene'
message posted.

<Anitra> Define 'obscene'!!

<Nick> Faced with this huge liability, Internet providers and local BBS's will
be shutting down all over the country.

<Tim.P> That's the problem. :(

<D.Cotton> Hmmm... my local BBS supplies Internet, so they'd get caught there
too.

<Tim.P> I mean what may be obscene to one isn't to another.

<Nick> A similar form of the bill has already passed the Washington state
legislature, and is on our Governor's desk as of this weekend.

<QT> :<

<Tim.P> Is he running for president? :/

<Anitra> Agreed!  Technically, according to 'community standards', the *only*
adult entertainment facilities that can be busted

<Tim.P> I'm sorry. I just have an idiot governor. :)

<Snogpitch> If that passes, it would seem television can be equally governed.

<Eddie> Pete Wilson, huh?  ;D

<Anitra> by the local gendarmerie are the ones that have gone out of business,
'cos they obviously don't have community support!

<Tim.P> (The one from California, Pete Wilson.)

<Nick> People around here are freaking out.  My own Internet provider says
they'll have to deny access to minors and raise their rates to make up the
costs of checking everyone's I.D... and they're stil taking a risk because even
if one gets through, they can be held liable under the law.

<QT> it would seem almost ANYTHING could be governed or regulated :(

<Anitra> The fascists are taking over.

<Nick> The problem is there's a total lack of understanding among legislators
about what the on-line world is all about...

<Tim.P> That is a problem. :/

<Nick> So PLEASE call/write/fax your local reps over and over, make them
understand!

<Snogpitch> Or E-mail.

<Anitra> Exon is from Nebraska, BTW.

<Nick> So much for 'less regulation' and 'less interference', eh?

<Nick> Thanks, Anitra, I will remember that next time I give this schpiel  :)

<Anitra> his address is:  528 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington DC 20510.
 Ph#  202 224-4224

<Tim.P> Well, I have to go in early tomorrow. Night all. :)

<Nick> Good night Tim!

<Eddie> They have to pay for their raises somwhow.  Tax the internet, fine
eveyone!
<Eddie> Night Tim

<QT> Thanks everyone for joining us tonight!!

<D.Cotton> What they really need is international legislation controlling what
GOES on the net. But since that's too hard for them to do, they'll settle for
giving the Sysops the impossible task of policing what comes in.

<Anitra> I'd like to recomend a book, first ...

<GEOS-TIM> Night

<Anitra> 'It Can't Happen Here' by Sinclair Lewis.

<Nick> Right, they should be going after individual violators -- whoever POSTED
the stuff!  We don't hold the phone company responsible for those 976 numbers, or
if someone makes an obscene phone call...

<Anitra> That's like busting someone for *receiving* pornography!

<D.Cotton> Absolutely.

<D.Cotton> Maybe someone should try adding that to the bill... that would kill
it.

<Anitra> If you need the address or number of your representative, BTW, you can
find it here on Genie - in PF*NPC.

<QT> sorta like being busted for receiving an obscene phone call

<Nick> Or arresting the mailman for delivering me a mail bomb.

<Anitra> Nick - thanks for coming in.  I hope I'll be able to understand more
of what you were talking about next time! <G>

<Anitra> Or arresting what's left of you for opening it!!

<Nick> :)

<Nick> Thank you Anitra.

<GEOS-TIM> Always good to see the Great programmers come into conference

<Nick> I encourage you to download Novaterm and try it out.

<Anitra> I am deadly serious about the Fascist takeover, though.
<Anitra> Nick - I plan on it - while I still can!!

<Nick> Anitra, I couldn't agree more.

<Eddie> Or as silly as suing Mc Donalds because they served me hot coffee, and
I spilt it on myself.  Oh wait..someone DID do that  :/

<QT> hehe, Eddie, that had me really fired up!

<GEOS-TIM> Watch it Anitra...you'll have brown shirts at your door if you don't
watch it.

<Anitra> Eddie, there's a lot more to that story than people realise - that
suit *was* justified.

<QT> how so, Ann?

<Nick> I happen to believe 'less government' really means less telling
businesses how to be responsible and more telling individuals how to live their
lives... just 'different interference'.

<GEOS-TIM> Is that what they think is behind that bombing?

<Anitra> For starters, McD deliberately keeps their coffee extremely hot, so
it's still hot when people get it to work.  Second, McD had ignored numerous
complaints about overhot coffee and burns - into the thousands.

<GEOS-TIM> maybe they should have extremely hot coffee for those folks, and the
other for people that will be drinking it right away

<Anitra> Third, the woman in question did not receive the total amount - it was
greatly reduced on appeal.

<GEOS-TIM> MacScald and MacSortaHot

<Nick> Sure, why not just sell it at two differnt temperatures?

<Anitra> Yes, sir - is that for here, for on the way or for after you get
there?  And remember, you can't change your mind ...

<QT> or with ice if need be?

<Nick> And why not let the market provide kid-safe Internet access?

<Eddie> I've been drinking it for years and I have never had a problem with
burning myself.

<Anitra> There are solutions, I know.  And a lot of lawsuits are frivolous. And
I hold no particular brief for McD - i don't

<D.Cotton> Kinder-Net? ;)

<Anitra> even eat there.

<Eddie> Of course, I could get a little burned for a few million dollars

<Anitra> Eddie - try extremely burned for a few hundred-thousands!!
<Anitra> BTW, there are TV-censorship devices fo parents, so why not the
Internet?

<Nick> If a family wants sterilized Internet, they can sign onto Prodigy.  The
big on-line services will be the only folks who will have the resources and the
wherewithal to provide it.  But damn it, the govt shouldn't outlaw the little
guys to get the job done!  Kid-safe options are already out there, and the big
on-line guys (GEnie included) ought to provide more in that direction, so the
government will stay out of the picture.

<D.Cotton> Welp, all this Internet talk has me pumped up... think I'd better
head out and work on getting some more of our web pages finished.

<QT> Bye Doug!

<Eddie> I checked it out, Doug.  Certainly is a lot of construction  ;)
<Eddie> night Doug

<Nick> See ya, Doug!

<GEOS-TIM> I need to go to.

<Anitra> Niters, Doug.

<Snogpitch> So, what would happen if we called a provider outside of the
continental United States?  who could enforce it then?

<D.Cotton> Take care, all. Nice seeing you Nick! ;)

<QT> Bye Tim!

<GEOS-TIM> Night Nick, Night Eddie
<Eddie> Night Tim

<GEOS-TIM> Night QT, Doug, Snog, Anitra

<Snogpitch> nite.

<Anitra> Me, too, folks -  Niters, all!

<GEOS-TIM> ::::::::::[POOF:::::::::::::

<QT> Bye Ann!

<D.Cotton> Nite! ;)

<Nick> No one, Snogpitch.  That's the problem with trying to censor it.  Kids
who are looking for 'adult' material are going to get it one way or another.
Only parents are close enough to enforce it.

<Nick> Good night all... I will be going as well.

<QT> Nick, thank you , I look forward to 9.6 as well as version 10 of
Novaterm!

<Nick> Thanks QT  :)

<Eddie> Night Snog

<Snogpitch> I'm a registered user, as well...

<Eddie> Night Nick.  Thank You

<QT> Thanks Nick!

<Nick> See you , Eddie, thanks for moderating.

<QT> Don't be a stranger Nick :)

<Nick> Okay :)  Good night