vxHPC
High-quality Terminal Emulation
By Don Hergert
I'm a heavy communications user and my primary use for Windows CE is communication
related. Windows CE 1.0 and its incomplete terminal emulation capabilities almost pushed
me into giving up on it altogether. Windows CE 2.0 has enticed me back with great
enthusiasm. Not because the Terminal program has improved ¡ it hasn't. But because
high-quality emulation packages from independent software developers have begun to hit the
market.
The one that I'm using is vxHPC from Cambridge Computing Corp. It's the only one that
is Windows CE 2.0 compatible at the time of the writing of this article. It lets you
connect your H/PC to BBS's, Digital, Unix, Wang and Internet host systems. vxHPC supports
IrDA, serial port, modem, and TCP/IP connections and all the normal Windows CE dialing
functions, plus it provides login scripting (unfortunately not for Remote Networking
connections), printing, a print log mode, print capture, text capture, copy, paste,
multi-protocolled upload and download, a nice variety of fonts, a very well done group of
emulations, and the ability to connect using a Remote Networking connection in a Telnet
mode (although be aware that this mode of connecting to a system like CSi over the
Internet is unsecured).
vxHPC is a well done, feature rich, and reliable product. In my mind it's what Windows
CE's native Terminal program should have been. It works nicely with CSi's remaining
text-based forum and information services, as well as with CSi's "old-mail"
system.