🚀 go-pugleaf

Fellow Netlanders,

I'm about to drop $1045 on a 1040ST with a color monitor.  Being a conscientious
consumer (tight wad), I've got a few questions.  I know the following topics
have been kicked around this group in previous months, so feel free to mail
your replies to me.

What's in the developers kit?  Tons of (useful?) documentation, a C compiler,
an assembler, a linker.  Does it include a communication package to upload and
download files from the UNIX system at work?  How buggy/fast is the C compiler
that comes with the developers kit?  300 frogskins is quite a bit, would I get
my monies worth with this?

My other options for a C compiler are Lattice (slow, but I can get it for ~$125)
or Megamax (fast but I don't know how buggy or how much it costs).  I'll need
an assembler that I can link with the C compiler.  Is there any public domain
C/assembler/linker?

I also need a communication package.  From what I understand, a vt100 emulator
has communication capabilities that will work on the UNIX systems at work.
Does a public domain vt100 emulator exist?  How do I get my paws on it if
I can't upload/download?

What are good/bad documentation sources?  Books?  Magazines?  I'm new to the
PC world and I'm pretty much lost.  If any experienced 1040ST person would
be willing to mentor me via e-mail I'd appreciate it.  Thanks.

		Walt Kurszewski
		ihuxl!walt2