Aminet 15

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ Aminet 15 / Aminet 15 - Nov 1996.iso / Aminet / comm / fido / fnews3.lzh / fido301.nws < prev next >

Wrap

Text File | 1986-03-01 | 46KB | 1,123 lines

Volume 3, Number 1 6 January 1986 +----------------------------------------------------------+ | _ | | / \ | | - Fidonews - /|oo \ | | (_| /_) | | Fido and FidoNet _`@/_ \ _ | | Users Group | | \ \\ | | Newsletter | (*) | \ )) | | ______ |__U__| / \// | | / FIDO \ _//|| _\ / | | (________) (_/(_|(____/ | | (jm) | +----------------------------------------------------------+ Publisher: Fido 1/1 Editor in Chief: Thom Henderson Review Editor: Allen Miller Chief Procrastinator Emeritus: Tom Jennings Fidonews is published weekly by SEAboard, Fido 1/1. You are encouraged to submit articles for publication in Fidonews. Article submission standards are contained in the file FIDONEWS.DOC, available from Fido 1/1. Disclaimer or don't-blame-us: The contents of the articles contained here are not our responsibility, nor do we necessarily agree with them; everything here is subject to debate. We publish EVERYTHING received. Table of Contents 1. EDITORIAL FidoNet Policy Guide released 2. NEWS Running Fido with a Cermetek 1200 SPC Modem Fido Related Ramblings Computer Group Association Formed 3. COLUMNS Fido Utilities, What, Where and When part 1 by Henk Wevers Rainbow Corner 4. NOTICES The Interrupt Stack Special notice to Jim Filgo Special notice to Henk Wevers ============================================================ EDITORIAL ============================================================ A New Year, A New Net Well, not really a new net. Maybe just one that's a little easier to figure out. FidoNet has grown a lot over the past few years. Its organization has changed a few times to accommodate its increased size. The latest change was when multinet operation was added, distributing control of the net to dozens of people scattered all over the place. Sometimes this has caused confusion. A plaintive sysop demanding "Who's in charge here?" might have a hard time finding out. Many people seem unsure just how to get a node number, or how form a net, or where to turn when things don't seem to be working right. Some policies have been developed since multinet operation was established, but not much has been said about what they are. A new coordinator or net host has a hard time figuring out how everything works. So a FidoNet Policy and Procedures Guide has been compiled, and is being distributed with this issue of Fidonews. The guide doesn't set any new policies, it just describes the ones we already have. We think you'll find it a useful reference. ------------------------------------------------------------ Fidonews Page 2 6 Jan 1986 ============================================================ NEWS ============================================================ Robert Plamondon Fido 10/624 Running Fido with a Cermetek 1200 SPC Modem I just bought a Cermetek half-card modem for my Fido system. This is a more-or-less Hayes-compatible 1200 baud modem which sells for $199 at Fry's Electronics in Sunnyvale (and probably at similar prices elsewhere). The modem seems very nice so far. The obvious differences from a stand-alone modem are the lack of indicator lights and the terrible speaker. I don't find these to be much of a problem. The main problem was that the generic Hayes setup for Fido doesn't work. Fortunately, there is a simple fix. On the command line for Fido, you need to specify 16/v instead of the more common 128/v. This will get Fido to look at the correct bit for carrier detect. You need to set up the modem for auto-answer (DIP switch 4 off), and set up the modem for numeric codes. Numeric codes can be had by default by setting DIP switch 3 on, or you can leave it off and create a FIDOMDM.BBS file with the line ATV0 in it. This will turn off the English-language status messages and use the Hayes numeric codes. All other settings can be left at their defaults. ------------------------------------------------------------ Fidonews Page 3 6 Jan 1986 John Plocher Fido 121/90 Fido Related Ramblings Ever since I started using Fido about a year and a half ago, I have been bothered a bit about the way FidoNet is set up. Why must FidoNet be a synchronous event? Namely, why is there a distinction between a person calling your Fido and another Fido calling it? There is already a verification scheme in Fido which makes sure that it is talking to a Fido and not a user, so why restrict the times when systems can access each other? If I want to send mail to you, I need to generate your outgoing packet, call up your machine, send the packet. You don't need to do anything with that packet till you want to. If you wait till after the national mail slot to unpack it, so what. Things would still run as they do now. If, however, you set up your event schedule so that the unpack routine got called every 2 or 3 hours, your system could have a faster 'message response time'. This would also remove a bottleneck which exists right now: the mail slot can run out before you got done sending all your outgoing mail. Allowing a Fido to make outgoing calls anytime wouldn't mean that you would have to make changes in your current routing setup if you didn't want to change your habits. All that this would do is remove the restriction that the Fido you want to talk to has scheduled a mail event at the same time you do. Remember, routing files only effect SENDING mail! Also, why can't (?shouldn't?) I be able to tell the local "Fido" system to call a remote "Fido" and request info from it like: FORWARD MY MAIL LIST DIRECTORIES LIST FILES IN directory DOWNLOAD file UPLOAD file I could then leave a "message" on my local machine which would result in my getting the latest version of RENUM from Bob's system or a list of the file areas on one of the St. Louis systems. I could also allow normal users (if they have credit) easy access to files on other systems. All right, I know Fido will never allow this since Tom J. has said that 10l, will be his last version (I haven't the foggiest who did 11a), but if Bob Hartman reads this, it might rub off onto Rover. If it does, I'll provide a flea collar! Thanx for 'listening' to my ramblings! Fidonews Page 4 6 Jan 1986 John Plocher User on 121/90 - MidNet Madison, WI ------------------------------------------------------------ Fidonews Page 5 6 Jan 1986 Computerists Form International Computer Users Groups Association Incorporation papers will be filed next week in Lexington, Kentucky for a new non-profit scientific, literary, educational and charitable organization to be known as the International Computer Users Groups Association, Inc. (ICUGA). The organization, being incorporated by computerists from four states, is designed to aid local computer users groups in promoting use of computers and themselves and to allow computer users groups to share information. "The idea is to allow computer users groups to speak to one another, to know more of the trends of the computer industry and to help them better serve their members," explained David Reed, one of the founders of ICUGA and president of the Central Kentucky Computer Society, Inc. "We are writing to all known computer users groups inviting them to join with us in forming this organization. We want to have as much input as possible from the various users groups and are offering them the opportunity to have a role in the formation of policy and direction for this organization." Charter dues for ICUGA will be only $25 per users group and will enable member organizations to help form the future plans of the international organization. Among the ideas being considered by ICUGA is an 800 number to allow new computerists to call to find out about member users groups in their area; a newsletter for user group presidents; a clearing house of information for those wishing to form new users groups; a speakers' bureau to help users groups learn of those willing to make presentations to groups; working with computer manufacturers and suppliers to obtain user group discounts for ICUGA-member organizations; to provide an exchange service for newsletter articles for local user group publications; to provide a liaison between member users groups and other non-profit organizations to allow computer groups to perform public service activities; and to explore other aspects of the organization which will benefit the local users groups. "We've just gone through 15 months of growing pains with our new local computer society and realize how difficult it is for a local group to gain information about how to form a group and what is needed to obtain non-profit tax and mailing status and suggested by-laws for such a group," Reed explained. "After talking with various user group presidents around the country, it appears an organization such as ICUGA is needed. We don't want to be a parent organization for users groups -- just a support service for them, allowing them to use whichever services we offer as they decide locally." ICUGA will incorporate as a non-profit corporation Fidonews Page 6 6 Jan 1986 under Kentucky law and will seek 501 (3) (c) tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service and non-profit mailing rights from the U.S. Postal Service. Founders and members of the initial board of directors of ICUGA are: * David Reed, president of the Central Kentucky Computer Society, Inc., Lexington, KY. Reed is Director of Library Services for the Lexington Herald-Leader Co., a Knight-Ridder newspaper. * Bob Van Cleef, former president of the San Diego Computer Society, the nation's second-largest computer users group. * Charles Bowen, a Huntington, WV, freelance writer and one of the authors of "How To Get The Most Out Of The Source" and "How To Get The Most Out Of CompuServe." He is also a contributing editor of CompuServe's OnLine Today publication and electronic service. * Wendy Woods, San Francisco based freelance writer and editor of Newsbytes(tm), an computer news weekly available online on The Source. * Mike Guffey, an Arlington, Texas, computer user and editor of the Kaypro Knews, a user publishing service on The Source. * Arthur A. Abshire, a Lexington, KY, attorney and computer user and treasurer of the Central Kentucky Computer Society, Inc. * John Newby, an internationally known combustion engineer, computer user and immediate past vice president of the Central Kentucky Computer Society, Inc. The ICUGA board of directors will also appoint an advisory committee comprised of well known computer users, movers and shakers of the industry. Users groups interested in ICUGA and not wishing to wait for their informational mailing may contact the organization at: International Computer Users Groups Association, Inc. c/o Abshire & Abshire, attorneys Suite 100 Security Trust Building Lexington, Kentucky 40507 For more information contact David Reed at (606) 269-6431 evenings. ------------------------------------------------------------ Fidonews Page 7 6 Jan 1986 ============================================================ COLUMNS ============================================================ Fido utilities, part 1 : The "complete" list -------------------------------------------- by Henk Wevers Fido 3101/1 Many times I wished there was a complete list of available Fido utilities with a short description of what each utility does and where to find it. If you know that I live in Holland, Europe you will understand my point. Its awfully expensive to browse through the software of many Fido sys- tems. Well, the list is here now for the same reason that a lot of Fido software is "popping" up: if it doesn't exist, do it yourself. I hope this list will help you, especially if you are rather new to the Fido scene. I will try to make this a three part article with the different parts published about a month after each other. This first part merely lists all Fido utility software I am aware of, the second part explains how to use a lot of these utilities in a batch file letting Fido taking care of most of its maintenance (THAT's different from a real dog!) and the third part talks about how to use some of these freestanding utilities to make the life of a Fido dog owner much easier. The list of available Fido utilities following this intro and the upcoming articles will be distributed as three files so new sysops can pickup easely from there. I hope to keep the first file called FIDOUTIL.DC1 current, but I need your help here. Note that I have only included programs I have tried out. There may be a lot of other utilities I am not aware of. Please let me know if you use some other utility. I really wouldn't mind if you attach it to the message you are going to send to me. Beware, the message and files go straight to europe, it may cost you a little here. If you tell me where I can find it, and the program looks interes- ting I will probably pick it up some day. And oh yes, the comments on the programs are mine and very personal. I don't try to be offensive here, I really appriciate all the work done to make a Fido utility. It just happens that we have some duplicates here and that some programs do the job in a better way for my situation. Anyway, If you object or want to add something to my comments, just let me know. FILE: FIDOUTIL.DC1 ------------------------------------------------------------ FIDO UTILITIES PART ONE : THE "COMPLETE" LIST See also FIDOUTIL.DC2 : How to set up Fido batch files See also FIDOUTIL.DC3 : Free standing Fido utilities ------------------------------------------------------------ This list is compiled on December 23, 1985 by Henk Wevers Fido 3101/1. Please forward all updates, changes and additions to me on Fido_nl1, (3101/101, try Europe for a Fidonews Page 8 6 Jan 1986 change), and I will distribute the updated list through Fidonews as need arises. Please attach the new/changed Fido utility so I can include short comments about it. Comments are personal and in now way mean to criticize all those people contributing Fido utilities. They are only included to give a short personal impression on this growing number of programs. If I have seen things wrong, just let me know and I will correct them as soon as you convinced me. ============================================================ See also the text files FIDOUTILS.DC2 and FIDOUTILS.DC3 if you need a tutorial on how to use these utilities in the Fido setup. ============================================================ Note: Most fees are for commercial use only. Please check with the programmer. Utility version date programmer Fee ? net/node ======== ======= ======== ================= ======= ======== DAYNBR 1.0 85/10/26 Ben Baker 100/76 --------------------------------------------------- Edits a DOS command to contain reference(s) to julian day-of-year and then executes command. Hosts and other major Fidoforces use it all the time. It can help you too. --------------------------------------------------- EDIFIDO 1.09 85/09/26 Bob Klahn 107/50 --------------------------------------------------- Edits about everything in a Fido message including "SEND" bit, attached file field etc. Does not (yet) edit the message body. Most useful when the body editing is been added. --------------------------------------------------- EVENT 85/11/19 Ben Baker $ 25 100/76 --------------------------------------------------- An alternative method of maintaining Fido's schedule file with features not provided by Fido (Gosh, why don't I use this ?) --------------------------------------------------- FIDOUSER 1.0 84/12/21 Allen Miller 108/10 --------------------------------------------------- To print last name, first name, times called, last date, password and security from the USER.BBS file to screen/printer/file in a fixed or comma delimited format. --------------------------------------------------- FIDOXREF 1.0 85/10/13 Bill Becker 16/209 --------------------------------------------------- Lists differences between real directory and FILES.BBS Basically OK, but SHUFFLE can do this also and more. --------------------------------------------------- FILELIST 1.3 109/602 --------------------------------------------------- Makes a list of all files in your FILES.BBS files. Output goes to printer, console or a user download- able file. Includes size and download time for Fidonews Page 9 6 Jan 1986 every file. Useful switches to keep some files a secret. Be nice to your long distance callers, make an external event running this program, arcing the result and placing the arced file in an accessible area. They'll bless you. --------------------------------------------------- FILER 2.0 85/08/11 Vincent. E. Perriello 110/491 --------------------------------------------------- REMARK: use FILELIST instead, except if you have a space problem, Filer makes a more comprehensive list with but with less features (no download times for instance. --------------------------------------------------- LISTGEN 2.00 85/09/08 John Warren $ 20 102/401 --------------------------------------------------- Nobody can run Fido without this neat program. It must be run on the distributed node list to get a working node list and route files for Fido --------------------------------------------------- PRGUSERS 1.0 85/08/03 David Horowitz 107/2 --------------------------------------------------- User files can become big, especially with one time callers. With TJ's SYS_XXX user file maintenance program you can purge the users you want, but that means leaving Fido and manually starting the pro- gram. PRGUSERS does the same, but automatically from batch using an external event. Keen sysops use this. --------------------------------------------------- READMSG 2B 84/11/25 Kurt Reisler 109/483 --------------------------------------------------- Read messages outside Fido. The only reason to use this one instead of several others is that you can print the message to a file. As soon as Rover can print messages you can delete this one. --------------------------------------------------- READQ 1.1f Robert Lederman 16/42 --------------------------------------------------- If your users get a low first time privilege then you must upgrade them manually by reading the ANSWERS or ANEWUSER file and then updating them with TJ's SYS_XXX. A long and time consuming way. Well this program does all that and you can append the answer file to a XX.SAV file, so you can start with a fresh file next time. The program is OK and saves a lot of time, but the speed of the program could use a lot of improvement. --------------------------------------------------- RENUM 1.1 85/08/28 Bob Hartman 101/101 --------------------------------------------------- A companion to PRGUSERS. This one can renumber and delete messages from batch (actually simulating sysop's 2 and 8 commands). I don't see how you can do without this one. --------------------------------------------------- RESEND 1.1 85/07/25 Ben Taylor 102/411 --------------------------------------------------- And then it happened, the message was marked SEND Fidonews Page 10 6 Jan 1986 but it got lost somewhere and never arrived. If you are like me, you hate to type in things twice. Use RESEND instead. If you marked your message to be killed after sending, you have run out of luck. You can do some little tricks with this one, like regular distribution of files, but most of us use ROBOT for these kinds of things. --------------------------------------------------- ROBOT 3.30 85/09/27 System enhancement $ 20 107/8 --------------------------------------------------- Used to distribute messages and files on a regular basis, like Fidonews, node list updates, route files, etc. Hosts must have it, and will probably use it together with DAYNBR. --------------------------------------------------- ROVERMSG 2.14 85/12/03 Bob Hartman $ 15 101/101 --------------------------------------------------- What can I say? I use it every day. It's a mimicry of Fido's message base but has some cute extensions like editing already saved files and editing with your favorite word processor. Will grow into a complete Fidoclone (with sources I hope). The only thing I miss is the ability to send messages read to the printer or a file (like twix, but for all areas as a sysop only command). Get this one ! --------------------------------------------------- ROVERTWX 1.00 85/08/13 Oscar Barlow 104/56 --------------------------------------------------- Should be better than the original TJ's TWIX, that doesn't know about nets. Yeach... this one mixes up the nets too, so no big deal (yet). Still you must get this one or TWIX, they both will print all unread message in the mail area. Run it every mor- ning to get a hard copy of your new mail. --------------------------------------------------- RSYSOP 1.62 Dave Purks 109/456 --------------------------------------------------- Emulates the SYS_XXX file to maintain the user list. You can start this from inside Fido with the 0 command. Good for remote sysops (you should have one during the holidays anyway). If you're gonna use this make sure you run watchdog too ! --------------------------------------------------- SHIPUSER 1.0 85/05/21 David Horowitz 107/2 --------------------------------------------------- In an effort to make a list of all Fido users, you are asked to run this program on your user list and ship the result to 107/1. They will compile a nationwide (worldwide ??) "Fido" book so you can look up where to send someone a message. Personally I think this is a goal that can't be achieved as Fido grows as fast as it does now. Most likely it will gobble up all available disk space next year or so. Still, if Fido's too big we'll probably split up the book in different parts for different countries and regions, so keep sending the files to 107/1. --------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 11 6 Jan 1986 SHUFFLE 2.00 85/11/17 Robert Lederman 16/42 --------------------------------------------------- Yep, another goldie. You MUST get this one. It's for maintaining your files and FILES.BBS files (thats a lot of files in this sentence, do you Americans have another word ?). Just get it and use it! --------------------------------------------------- SYSOP 2.07 Mark. W. Buse $ 5 206-634-0122 --------------------------------------------------- An cute alternative for the sysop user maintenance SYS_XXX. Full screen. A matter of taste if you use this one or TJ's. --------------------------------------------------- SYSREPT 1.43 85/11/14 Allen Miller 108/10 --------------------------------------------------- Another Fido Classic. (What Classic? Fido is still a puppy!) I run this one as a batch file every week at 23:59 on Saturday. It provides me with a comprehensive sysop log, utilization report and a report on up and downloads. If you want to analyze your system's usage this program can also make an import file for DBII and others. --------------------------------------------------- SYS_XXX 85/01/26 Tom Jennings 125/1 --------------------------------------------------- Just for reference here, it comes with Fido. Used to maintain the user list. --------------------------------------------------- TESTLIST 1.2 85/10/23 Ben Baker 100/76 --------------------------------------------------- Ok, only for hosts and region coordinators. Tests your local node list and reports errors. Optionally updates the distributed World node list locally. --------------------------------------------------- TWIX 85/09/08 Tom Jennings 125/1 --------------------------------------------------- See ROVERTWX. Everybody seems to have this one, but the program keeps telling me it's not public domain. --------------------------------------------------- USERLIST 1.0 85/07/08 Ben Baker 100/86 --------------------------------------------------- Another "print the users" program. --------------------------------------------------- USERLIST 1.0 Jim Ryan 141/400 --------------------------------------------------- What the name says. We got more of these, will try to report the differences in the future. I NEVER print the user list so I am not sure which one to use. --------------------------------------------------- USERSORT 1.22 Lennart Svensson 101/4602 --------------------------------------------------- First European contribution. I use it as an exter- nal event once a day just before mail. Sorts the user list and puts the last callers first. Users Fidonews Page 12 6 Jan 1986 can see now with the "U" command if somebody called in lately. --------------------------------------------------- WATCHDOG 84/08/15 James R. Reinders don't know --------------------------------------------------- If you are going to use the "0" command you MUST use watchdog. Otherwise if you get disconnected the next caller can drop into DOS. Watchdog reboots the system after the carrier is lost. With an appropriate AUTOEXEC.BAT file Fido will restart. --------------------------------------------------- WEEKDAY 85/11/13 Ben Baker 100/76 --------------------------------------------------- Like DAYNBR and ROBOT, useful in batch files. Exits with error level set to the day number. You can control the flow of events in your batch file with this one. --------------------------------------------------- WHATSNEW 1.1 85/11/28 David Stickler 101/45 --------------------------------------------------- Converts an uploaded file (whatsnew.txt) into a message to all. Tried it, and it works, but why should I use it. Anybody out there who knows? --------------------------------------------------- WRITEMSG 1.3 Net Systems $ 10 115/396 --------------------------------------------------- Makes a text file into a message (AHA now we can make Loooooong messages without files attached). --------------------------------------------------- Well that completes the list. I have thought about including the World famous ARC in this list, but that's not really a FIDO utility. It's a utility for all MS-DOS computer users. It's available on ALL Fido systems. Oh well, here we go: ARC 4.45 System Enhancement 107/7 --------------------------------------------------- Archives, squeezes, crunches and god knows what other kind of compression techniques it uses now. If you don't have it either go get it NOW or stop running a Fido board. --------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ Fidonews Page 13 6 Jan 1986 Rainbow Corner by Theodore Needleman Reader Mail... As usual, first order of business is reader mail. B.R. McMahon, a volunteer instructor for the Senior Citizen Activities Program in Colorado Springs, calls me to task about April's column. He has some questions about (and criticisms on the use of) computer jargon. Well, Mr. McMahon, I apologize. Not for the use of jargon, after all every discipline has its own vocabulary, but for not defining some terms as I went along. Sometimes I forget how frustrating it is to be just starting out and have everyone talking over your head. To address your questions, Terminal Mode is the Rainbow's built in Terminal Emulation program. When you turn on the system, after the self-test is completed, you are provided with a screen which asks which drive you wish to boot from. If you choose "T" from this menu, you will be in "Terminal Mode". Mr. McMahon's letter goes on to ask where in DEC's documentation the information about Terminal Mode and Print Screen is located, and requests a definition of "Screen Dump". Well, sir, "Screen Dump" is jargon for transferring whatever's on the CRT into hardcopy via the printer. In other words, performing a "Print Screen". The information about Terminal Mode is to be found in the Rainbow 100 User's Guide in Chapter 4 ("Communicating with Another Computer"), and the description of the "Print Screen" function is on the last page of that chapter under "Using a Printer". Granted, you do have to hunt a bit for it, but it is in there (and in the index to the User's Guide). I do agree with you that it is not particularly easy to "zero-in" on a specific piece of information. A "Master" index, covering the "Owner's" Guide, "User's" Guide, and CPM/86-80 and MS-DOS manuals would seem to be a good idea. This would direct you not only to a particular page, but also a specific manual. This wouldn't be any big deal to do (just merge the four current indexes), but I don't see anyone at DEC being particularly anxious to do it. Next letter is from Michael Victoroff M.D. who writes (in part) "Please continue all possible sarcasm, jibes, needling, and other taunting of the (...people) at DEC who don't see the importance of PC's". You've got it, Mike. But it's important that you and the other "Corner" readers realize that I don't do this simply to be vile-tempered or curmudgeonly. The simple fact is that I, like the rest of you, own a Rainbow, and I want to use it as something more than a expensive paperweight (hell, I already have an Apple /// for that!) So it tends to get me a bit upset when DEC blows a beautiful piece of hardware out of the water with inept marketing (for DEC's latest gaff, see this week's Business Software Beat). It's easy to use (or misuse) these forums as a vehicle to vent some spleen, but that's not really the point of my tirades and rantings. Fidonews Page 14 6 Jan 1986 The object is to express both (from the letters I've been receiving,) your, and my own, displeasure at the way DEC has been handling the Rainbow. There's an old adage that "the squeaky wheel gets the grease". Maybe if we all "squeak" loud enough... Reader John Wheeler writes in asking about a port of Sublogic's (and Microsoft's) Flight Simulator. Sorry, John, there are two factors precluding a port of this particular program to the Rainbow. The first of these is that the program is copy-protected. To copy the software onto RX-50 diskettes, you'd first have to break, and take out, the copy protection. Even if it was possible to get the Flight Simulator onto a DEC format disk, it still wouldn't run on the Rainbow. The reason this particular package is used as a test of IBM-PC compatibility is that it makes extensive use of the PC graphics mode. And, as we all know, graphics on the IBM, and graphics on the Rainbow, are two very different animals. John also goes on to ask what kind of support and assistance a software vendor can expect to receive in porting a program over to the Rainbow. Actually, John, this is one area where DEC is doing a good job. DEC is prepared to offer not only marketing assistance, but technical assistance as well. A special ISV (Independent Software Vendor) support group has been formed for this purpose. Jim Alosi, who has been mentioned several times before here at the "Corner", has been named ISV Support & Development Manager. I speak to Jim fairly often, and I believe that he is committed to getting as much software as possible up on the Rainbow. All my jibes at the DEC bureaucracy aside, Jim and his team did a tremendous job on the Referral Guide, and I expect that his Support & Development group will be an invaluable resource in getting software ported over to the Rainbow. He requests that any software vendors interested in getting their programs ported on the Rainbow contact him (by mail ONLY, please!) His address is: Jim Alosi, ISV Support & Development Manager, LJ02/14, Digital Equipment Corp., 30 Porter Road, Littleton, MA. 01460. Speaking of porting software, my "Project Transport" (May issue) proposal has generated a bit of mail, most of it in favor of the project. However, at this writing, not enough input has come in to make worthwhile the enormous investment in time required for such an undertaking. Now granted, not a lot of time has passed. Due to the "publishing lag", the May issue of Hardcopy has only been out about 3 weeks as this is being written. The "powers that be" at the magazine tell me we have over 30,000 Rainbow owners reading Hardcopy. I'd like to see input from at least 1% of you before I make a decision. I know most of you never write to a magazine, after all, I very rarely write to magazines either. But I'm asking you to make an exception in this case. I'll hold off making a "go/no-go" decision on "Project Transport" until August 1st. If you haven't already given me your "two cents worth", please take a moment to do so now. The addresses are: paper mail to IDEA TECHNOLOGY, P.O. Box 668, New City, Fidonews Page 15 6 Jan 1986 NY 10956, MCIMail to "Theodore Needleman", and SourceMail to TCA920. A good turn-out will be impressive not only to the software producers I'll approach if "Project Transport" takes off, but will demonstrate to DEC that there is considerable interest in keeping the Rainbow alive and well. I'm about out of room for this week, though not out of reader mail. Oh well, maybe there will be a bit of extra room next week! One last thing before I sign off. Several readers have taken me to task about the sparse mention I made of the FIDONET system. No slight was intended. I hope to sign on a few more FIDO BBS around the country during the next week. I'll report on this, and the "FIDONET Philosophy" in a bit more detail next week. Also coming up next week are "mini-reviews" on a public domain program called DAC, and on "DO-IT" from VU-SOFT. And, of course, reader mail! See you then. (c)opyright 1985 by Ted Needleman-all rights reserved ------------------------------------------------------------ Fidonews Page 16 6 Jan 1986 ============================================================ NOTICES ============================================================ The Interrupt Stack 24 Jan 1986 Voyager 2 passes Uranus. 9 Feb 1986 Halley's Comet reaches perihelion. 9 Feb 1986 Diana Overholt (109/74) has another birthday. 11 Apr 1986 Halley's Comet reaches perigee. 19 May 1986 Steve Lemke's next birthday. 24 Aug 1989 Voyager 2 passes Neptune. If you have something which you would like to see on this calendar, please send a message to Fido 1/1. ------------------------------------------------------------ Will Jim Filgo, node 131/445, please call node 1/1 to pick up his mail? ------------------------------------------------------------ Will Henk Wevers, node 3101/1, please call node 1/1 to pick up his mail? ------------------------------------------------------------ Fidonews Page 17 6 Jan 1986