modern serial terminal

[Dave McGuire]

On Nov 4, 2007, at 4:59 PM, Tony Duell wrote:
>> I don't understand why someone would want to spend 10x more
>> tima and money on a one-purpose device, when they can get
>> everything they want and more off a cheap PC.
>
> Probably for the saem reason that some of us run classic computers in
> preference to PCs...

   For me, the reason is simple.  Terminal emulators are too damn  
much trouble...emulation problems, key mapping, etc.  I've used  
pretty much all of them over the years, I think...the best one I've  
used was SmarTerm 240, and even that is far from perfect.  Sometimes  
what one really needs is an APPLIANCE...not an emulation of said  
appliance built upon an unstable and problematic platform.

   Further...A VT320 terminal pulls less than half an ampere at 120V,  
and is available for use within about fifteen seconds of  
powerup...can anyone say either of those things for a PC running  
terminal emulation software?

             -Dave

-- 
Dave McGuire
Port Charlotte, FL
Farewell Ophelia, 9/22/1991 - 7/25/2007