🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <636@mccc.UUCP> shevett@mccc.UUCP (Dave Shevett) writes:
>In article <958@cs.rit.edu> iav1917%ritcv@cs.rit.edu, I write:

>> [lengthy parts of discussion about the Rainbow PC]

>Its rare I flame someone on the net, and this may not even qualify, but I
>sat through this entire tirade with a grim expression on.  Thank you Alan,
>we understand that the Rainbow was  *FAIR* machine (I won't go further than
>that), but PLEASE, try to restrict the postings to something approaching
>reality?

   I debated about responding, but I felt I had to since I don't think
   the meaning got across in my first article.  I hate responding to
   "flames."  It makes me feel, well... you know. 


   Ah, Dave...

   Yes, your posting was a flame.  So?  You probably felt it was a waste 
   of time to post it.  I guess I could argue and refute or discuss each
   point you made.  But, that would be a waste of time since I am not
   trying to change *your* thinking at all.  I am responding to the
   numbers (albeit small) of Rainbow users listening to this newsgroup.
   And, given the e-mails I've received and the postings I've seen, the
   response was a positive one.  Except for your posting.  So, what's
   so terribly wrong trying to continue to bolster support for a piece
   of equipment that is still working fine and, in many cases, is doing
   work for people, and those people want to be able to do more?  Hmm?

   Many of the clients that I do work for are European- and Australian-based.
   They have DEC PCs which are useful to them.  They're doing productive
   things with them and they're generally satisfied.  They don't just toss
   out the equipment and say, "Shit.  The rest of the world is moving on -
   migrating to high-end, graphics-based workstations that do everything.
   We have to toss our equipment and spend lots of money and time to
   catch up with the other guys."  

   Sheesh.  

   Quick background... First of all, I used to make, own, and sell S-100
   systems (NorthStar, Cromemco, etc.) and I did some wiz-bang things
   with the systems.  I tried to impress the shit out of people -- and
   did -- who were going to buy PCs.  Guess what?  They still bought the
   PCs because of the IBM name.  That was it.  I lost a lot of time and
   some money too because of the Big Blue Computer Company.  But, that's
   another story.  Second of all, I've watched a lot of people spend a
   lot of money on the latest hardware and software and wound up STILL
   not being able to do what they wanted.  This was because someone told
   them to buy the "latest thing."  I want a NeXT machine.  But I don't 
   have the money.  But, what the hay, there are still bunches of PDPs
   running multi-tasking, multi-user OSs on a 16-bit processor.  

   You want reality?  

   It's what I said above.  I consult and assist people putting together
   systems and I try to recommend the best solutions for them.  I won't
   specify the Rainbow anymore, because of the lack of first-company support.
   But, I see no reason to abandon it either.  It works.  People use it.
   And, they want to know what they can still do with it.  ANYONE can just
   say "turn it into a boat anchor."

   Reality?

   The list I gave was BRIEF.  I have lists of hundreds of products and
   software still available for the machine.  Why?  Because people ask
   me about these items.  Why is Suitable Solutions in business?  They're
   not an IBM PC company, that's for sure!  Oh, maybe, someday, they'll
   swtich over.  But, for now, they're doing their part to help support
   the Rainbow community.  That community is small, agreed.  But, they
   need as much support and, obviously, a lot more encouragement than
   the droves of IBM PC and compatible machine users need.

   Dave, I have to say that I don't necessarily disagree at all with your
   opinions.  However, you completely missed the point about this
   discussion.  It's OK if you don't have any desire to use the machine.
   Feel free to use whatever you can to do work and make your life more
   productive.  I use a large number of systems ranging from a Mac SE
   to a Compaq 386/25 to a cluster of VAX 8000 series systems.  They all
   do different things for my life and I like them all.  However, I have
   a DEC Rainbow system at my home office and until it falls apart and
   disintegrates, there's no reason to worry about anything else.  When
   it stops being a productive tool, I'll look elsewhere.  And, when
   my clients and other business relationships cease to demand my time
   for this piece of hardware, I'll move on.  

   Reality?  REALITY IS WHAT WORKS!  No matter what the platform or 
   software.  Reality is NOT tossing aside something that works for a
   pipedream.  If you have the money and resources, all power to ya!
   But, if you don't, use what you've got.  I've got a huge investment
   of time, money, and effort into this system.  It's not that shabby,
   besides.  Tell me why I should give up the system?  Just because   
   it's several years old?

   To each his/her own, I say.

   By the way...

   Windows v1.03.04 runs fine with an MS-Mouse on the Rainbow.
   Want a copy?  It's floating around on a lot of bulletin boards,
   I'd imagine.

   I've heard Windows 2.1 runs fine with the MS-Mouse and the Logitech 
   mouse.  Neither are official products, of course, but Windows does work
   on the Rainbow and the new Turbow-286 board ought to help things a bit.
   ;-)
   
   Turbo Pascal 5.0 is much better than using Turbo 3.0 on the Rainbow.
   Why?  Because it has replaceable units for the screen I/O drivers.
   Just go ahead and replace the CRT and GRAPH units with any of the 
   several PD units for the Rainbow floating around and re-compile your
   code.  I've had a pretty easy time porting applications over from
   the IBM PC (though, any port generally requires some reprogramming).

   Want emulation?  Try TurboComm II for the Rainbow:  VT102/VT220/VT241
   emulation plus file transfer.  And, all the keypad keys are there,
   unlike a PC using VT emulation on the "different" IBM keypad.

   The point of this whole discussion is to say:  Hey, it's possible
   to still do productive work - if you want - with the Rainbow.  I am
   definitely NOT forcing ANYONE to use the machine or read this 
   article.  If you got this far, it's because you wanted to read about
   this topic.  The FACT that I'm even writing this article is because
   other people still care.

   Maybe I didn't have enough smiley faces in my first article or...

   Enjoy,
   Alan

   Mail:  Alan I. Vymetalik, Prism Software Designs, 8 Barn Swallow Lane
          Rochester, New York, 14624-4650, USA    Phone:  (716)-889-2904

   uucp:  {seismo}!rochester!ritcv!iav1917       BITNET:  aiv1917@ritvax

   Reality Check:  
     Based on highly-expensive, government-sponsored research into the
     subject (which has cost the taxpayers of this country plenty as
     well as the life of one researcher), I have determined that the
     above statements and opinions ARE directly related to the fact that
     A little, fat man puts crisp $100 bills in my pocket.