HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: cyj9h@csissun12.ee.Virginia.EDU (Charles Y. Choi)
Subject: Loading Paradox Files in Geos...
Organization: University of Virginia
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1992 20:50:58 GMT

Using the unsupported feature in the geos.ini file to start DOS apps
by double clicking on the data files created by them is great if the app
normally follows the model of appname <filename> on the command line.  But
what happens if there's no way to do this, where you have to start
the app first, then open the file you want to use (e.g. Paradox, 123)?

For Paradox you can write a script file to open the table you want to work
on and start the script file, but I see this as a poor solution.  I've tried
using key-fake to try to feed keystrokes - it didn't work.

Any comments or will I need to wait until Paradox for Geos?


Thanks!

-Charles Choi
 cyj9h@Virginia.EDU

-- 
"What a morning!  Birds, fish, frogs, and humans!"
                                      -Maya the Bee
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.pcgeos
From: teddy@emx.cc.utexas.edu (Teddy Iglehart [Ted E. Bear])
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.pcgeos
Subject: geoworks on tv
Date: 16 Aug 92 02:33:07 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: The University of Texas at Austin; Austin, Texas

Recently I wrote a letter to a syndicated computer
show called the "Computer Guy" based in Houston, Tx.

The letter along with the FAQ list drew enough attention
to GeoWorks that they will have a special on it with
a representative from the company.  

Maybe more users, attention, etc. will get the SDK out
and attract the attention of developers.

--ted
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.pcgeos
From: pat@berry.Cary.NC.US (Pat Berry)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.pcgeos
Subject: Re: Internal ZModem in 2.0?
Keywords: John, you'd better say something.
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 92 08:20:03 EDT
Organization: Berry Communications

birchall@pilot.njin.net (Shag) writes:

> 	And I think our resident GeoWorker should break with his "no comment"
> policy, and tell us whether GeoWorks is planning to add, or has added, such a
> creature.

You are asking John to jeopardize his job by revealing proprietary
information that belongs to his employer.  Even if his professional
ethics allowed him to do that (which I'm sure is not the case), he
doubtless signed a nondisclosure agreement with GeoWorks that prohibits
him from doing exactly what you request.

We would all like to know what GeoWorks is planning to do in the future,
but that's no excuse for pressuring John to indulge in behavior that
could get him fired and sued.  Please don't.  Having a GeoWorker
participate in this newsgroup is very valuable to all of us, but if we
don't treat him with the same respect and consideration that we all
expect, he may well leave.

-- 
Pat Berry - Cary, North Carolina, USA   | Dave Barry for President
pat@berry.Cary.NC.US                    |  "He Probably Won't Use
**** Happy user of OS/2 2.0 ****        |     Nuclear Weapons"
From: mwh@socrates.umd.edu (Michael Hrybyk)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.pcgeos
Subject: Re: GeoWorks' future (was Re: An SDK in 1993, did he say?)
Date: 13 Aug 92 14:42:05 GMT
Organization: University of Maryland University College


One of the things I just don't get is why the Sun version of the SDK
wasn't out yesterday. There are more than just a few programmers out
there with Suns would could be turning out apps.

If GW uses Suns to produce a quality 386 product, why can't the rest
of us?

Extreme speculation: Maybe the toolkit is not as product-ready as we
think, even on the native (Sun) platform.

Mike
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.pcgeos
From: jaz@lucid.com (Jim Zaun)
Subject: Re: What kind of bitmap is FULLMOON.BIT?
Keywords: Background stuff
Reply-To: jaz@lucid.com (Jim Zaun)
Organization: Lucid, Inc.
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 92 23:59:58 GMT

> It would be really nice if I could convert images to bitmaps and just
> drop them into the background directory... :)

It's non-standard.  But you can convert using GeoDraw's PCX/TIFF import
facility.  Our little 286 notebook only handles 16 shades of gray with a
strange color -> gray-scale mapping.  With a bit of work, I have
nice pseudo-continuous-tone backgrounds.

Details: First convert say a GIF, X11 or whatever into a 16-shade PPM file;
         Then convert to a remapped PCX file:

On the Sparc I do this (GIF -> remapped, 16-shade PCX):

  giftoppm ${file}.gif | ppmtopgm | pgmnorm \
    | ppmquant -fs -map r3 | ppmtopgm > ${file}.ppm
  ./ppmtopcx ${file}.ppm > ${file}.PCX

The r3 file (which forces a 16 shade, linear quantization) looks like this:

  P2
  16 1
  255
  0 17 34 51 68 85 102 119 136 153 170 187 204 221 238 255

The ./ppmtopcx was locally hacked to handle the screwy 16-shade color
palette on my 286 notebook.  (I can send you a diff if you think that will
help.)

Transfer the PCX file to your PC.  Then "fix" the PCX format using say, the
Image Alchemy (shareware) program.  Unfortunately, the ppmtopcx converter
produces a slightly incorrect PCX format when the number of colors is
neither 1 or 256.  GeoDraw detects this and barfs, while Image Alchemy
fixes the format so GeoDraw will accept it.  I use the following command:

alchemy <file.PCX> -b -c16 -d0 -p0

The -d0 option is important so it doesn't try to do color dithering between
any of the remapped and hence, non-adjacent colors.

Startup up GeoDraw and the Backgrounds dialog in the System Preferences
application.  Import the PCX file into GeoDraw ("File" menu); Cut/Copy
("Edit" menu) in GeoDraw; then goto the Background dialog box and click
on the button that says, ummm... Paste Background???, (not sure of exact
wording).

You're done.  I don't know if Geoworks can handle 256 colors since our
notebook LCD can't display these correctly.  Dot-dithered B&W backgrounds
are more portable but not nearly as pleasing to look at.

Incidently, the FULLMOON.BIT is a snapshot from the X11r3 "phoon"
program, a program on UNIX/X that shows the phases of the moon in realtime.
[Sorry ab. typos - I wasn't in the mood to proof read] 
-- 
Jim Zaun, c/o Lucid, Inc., 707 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025 (415/329-8400)
Internet:   jaz@lucid.com          (also  JamesAZaun@aol.com)     vmail x5570
Uucp:       ...!sun!edsel!jaz ??
From: birchall@pilot.njin.net (Shag)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.pcgeos
Subject: GeoTelix? (was Re: Internal Zmodem)
Keywords: Good idea.
Date: 22 Aug 92 19:48:19 GMT
Organization: Screaming in Digital, the Queensryche Net Digest

pechter@ocpt.ccur.com (Bill Pechter) writes:

>Try telix3.15 - all the features you want and it'll run from a floppy.
>Heck - it'll run from a 360k the .exe is 252048 and the phone dir
>and .key files are small.

>I've asked Colin Sampaleanu (the author) about a Geos version - but the
>Unix based SDK was a problem.  Perhaps in the future ...

Now that's a neat idea - I've never really been a big fan of DOS telix [it
looked a little too much like MS-Kermit for my tastes], but a GeoTelix would
be pretty cool.  Of course, in relation to the average GEOS application, DOS
telix's 250k executable is simply _immense_, but maybe when the DOS SDK is
more widely available, Mr. Sampaleanu will put out a nice tight GEOversion
of it. :)  

[And yes, I _would_ buy such a beast.]

-shag
-- 

     Freedom belongs to only those without video screens for eyes and mouth.
		- Queensryche
From: birchall@pilot.njin.net (Shag)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.pcgeos
Subject: Re: geoworks on tv
Date: 16 Aug 92 02:51:45 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Screaming in Digital, the Queensryche Net Digest

teddy@emx.cc.utexas.edu (Teddy Iglehart [Ted E. Bear]) writes:

>Recently I wrote a letter to a syndicated computer
>show called the "Computer Guy" based in Houston, Tx.

Is there any way you can get a list of stations carrying this show and post
it, and perhaps even keep up to date [and keep us all up to date] on when
the show's scheduled to air?  I don't know whether it is aired in my area
[Philadelphia market], but I'd love to see it.

-Shag
-- 

     Freedom belongs to only those without video screens for eyes and mouth.
		- Queensryche
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.pcgeos
Subject: Re: Internal ZModem in 2.0?
From: harvey_a@kosmos.wcc.govt.nz
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 22:18:37 GMT
Reply-To: harvey_a@kosmos.wcc.govt.nz
Organization: Wellington City Council, Wgtn, NZ

In article <Aug.17.17.03.17.1992.2368@pilot.njin.net>, birchall@pilot.njin.net (Shag) writes:
>
>	I recently installed an external ZModem on my system, and got it
>working with GeoComm.  I had been using Xmodem-1K in GeoComm, and getting
>transfer rates of up to 720 characters per second.  [I'm only running at
>9600 baud right now].  Under ZModem, I've been getting closer to 900 cps,
>and over 1000 cps with ZModem compression on.

Of course this large jump you get is due to the speed of your modem... On a
2400 link it matters much less, as less 'transmition potential' is wasted
whilst waiting for replys from the remote system.

>	So... I want to know whether we can expect an Internal ZModem in 2.0.
>
>	And I think our resident GeoWorker should break with his "no comment"
>policy, and tell us whether GeoWorks is planning to add, or has added, such a
>creature.

I think it's not *his* policy but Geoworks'  He is doing the right thing to
remain silent against our batterings, after all, we don't want MS to steal GW's
secrets do we... :-)/2

>	Why?
>
>	Well, if they're planning to, or have already done so, that saves us
>all the trouble of writing to Omen [makers of DSZ, which is generally the 
>de facto standard for ZModem on PC's] and begging them to write a GEOS version
>of their protocol, and begging them to _try_ to integrate it into GeoComm
>somehow... or begging them to write an entire GEOS terminal program - which
>might not be such a bad idea either... I wonder what DataStorm's Procomm+ 2.0
>would be like in a GEOS version?

When the SDK comes out (with the next release of GEOS) then we won't have to
rely on GW including Zmodem, or any other fancy new Protocols that come allong. 
I wonder if the next version will be able to accept extra protocols (not
external ones, but some sort of extention to the file transfer object (does
this make sense?))

>	Of course, if GeoWorks isn't working on this, but someone _else_ [read:
>third-party vendors!] is, I'd like to know that _someone_ is, although by no
>means should John feel obligated to say who. :)
>
>	-shag

When the SDK is released you'll be able to fill the hole yourself... :-)
 
| Adrian Harvey       (Harvey_A@kosmos.wcc.govt.nz)|
|             Windows?  Just say NO!               |
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.pcgeos
Subject: Re: GeoComm and high-speed modems.
From: harvey_a@kosmos.wcc.govt.nz
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1992 03:23:39 GMT
Reply-To: harvey_a@kosmos.wcc.govt.nz
Organization: Wellington City Council, Wgtn, NZ

In article <Aug.20.12.49.32.1992.19708@pilot.njin.net>, birchall@pilot.njin.net (Shag) writes:
>danh@ranger.cray.com (Daniel Hendrickson) writes:
>
>>Another point I would like to make is that the V.32bis modems have an
>>interface which supports rates much faster than 14.4K.  The number 57.6K
>>seems to ring a bell.  This is due to the data compression making most
>>throughput faster than the data rate.
>
>Yes, they do support theoretically higher data speeds.  There are two main
>speeds of high-speed modems - v.32 [9600] and v.32bis [14400], and two main
>compression schemes - mnp/5 [2x] and v.42bis [4x].  It works out something
>like this:
>
>			v.32	v.32bis
>	no compression	9600	14400
>		mnp/5	19200	28800 (_not_ used)
>		v.42bis	38400	57600
>
>Many 14400 modems let you set things up so that they'll only accept v.42bis
>compression, and not mnp/5.  I don't know whether the command to do that is
>consistent enough between modems to have it as an option in GeoComm - or,
>for that matter, in any terminal program.  
>
>Ideally, selectable baud rates would include 300, 1200, 2400, 9600, 14400,
>19200, 38400, and 57600 [and maybe 4800, for some reason ;)]
>
>Would that still all fit in the options box? :)
>
NOT QUITE..... compression rates you have stated above are based on theoretical
yealds based on good compressible data only.

Therefore the data rate is in fact infinately variable between slightly below
the actual connect speed (speed minus Compression overhead) to the limits you
stated... 

As we clearly cannot have a infinately variable data rate , all (or most)
modems incorperating data compression use the maximum rate and then hardware
handshaking to ensure proper flow.  Many of them also include tricks to fool
those comms programs that try to follow the modem rate, like always reporting
CONNECT 57600 whatever happens.

Having all those baud rates would still be the ideal, but you don't actually
NEED them all.
From: ganesh@madras.sybase.com (Ganesh Sundaresan)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.pcgeos
Subject: This is great stuff!
Keywords: brand-new user; incompatible w/ DRDOS SSTORDRV?
Date: 10 Aug 92 19:25:13 GMT
Organization: Sybase Inc.  Emeryville, CA


  Just got Geoworks Pro out of curiosity - haven't seen 
  a single bad review anywhere as yet.  Took it for a
  test-drive on my toy after a recent upgrade (now a 486/33 
  nameless clone w/ 4 Meg, running DR-DOS 6.0) - this software
  truly sprints!! 

  As I use Motif daily at work I probably have nothing to learn 
  user-interface wise (haven't practically touched the manual yet,
  of course).

  I did notice a minor incompatibility with SSTORDRV, the file
  compressor that comes with DR-DOS. When I start GEOS with the
  SSTORDRV loaded I get a message like 
    "Can't find directory in drive D - abort, retry, fail?"
  Things work fine after this if I just say "fail". 
  As I found it most annoying however, I just turned off loading
  SSTORDRV by editing out my CONFIG.SYS, and the problem went
  away. While the "Trouble-shooting Guide" refers to potential
  problems with disk-caching software and other TSR's, this 
  particular conflict with SSTORDRV isn't talked about. 
  Thought I'd mention it. So far, I've had absolutely no 
  compatibility problem with SuperPCQwik, the disk-cacher 
  that comes with DR-DOS.

  Will keep checking in here and reading for useful tips!
  Am particularly interested in the DOS application iconifier/
  launcher. 

  - Ganesh.
From: birchall@pilot.njin.net (Shag)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.pcgeos
Subject: Re: Product awareness, price-value IMHO
Date: 13 Aug 92 21:06:50 GMT
Organization: Screaming in Digital, the Queensryche Net Digest

sxfield@acad3.alaska.edu writes:

>Well, I purchased GeoWorks Pro, combined with Quattro Pro SE, but I didn't
>order it from GeoWorks, nor did I get it from a discounter.  I received in the
>mail an offer from GeoWorks for the Pro+Quattro package for $59.95, and that
>was the impetus I needed to get on the GeoWorks bandwagon.  

*Thpppt!* I got it for $49.95.  ;)  

[Geoworks had about a half-dozen different ways you could get Pro, or upgrade
to it, for cheap, all running at the same time.]

Actually, Berkeley Softworks/Geoworks has been doing this since the old C-64
days... when this newsgroup first started, a few of the ol'timers [including
me - I've been around since GEOS 1.1 on the '64] were noting that they hadn't
paid list price for a product since they initially bought the software.  I
think my experience thus far has been as follows:

	Item			List			Upgrade
	Geos 1.1		dunno			dunno
	Geos 1.2		$50(?)			$25(?)
	Geos 2.0		$50			$25
	Geos 128 2.0		$75			$25
	Ensemble 1.2		$200			$50
	Geoworks Pro		$200(?)			$50

Note that Quattro Pro SE itself retails for $50. :)

So, I figure by now, I've saved almost enough by not having to buy new versions
of things at list to go out and buy, say... "Word for Windows."

[Hey, why does John Mitchell look like he's about to throw his development SUN
at me?]

-Shag
-- 

     Freedom belongs to only those without video screens for eyes and mouth.
		- Queensryche
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.pcgeos
From: johnm@cory.Berkeley.EDU (John D. Mitchell)
Subject: Re: Internal ZModem in 2.0?
Summary: Why?
Organization: University of California, at Berkeley
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 23:25:12 GMT

In article <Aug.17.17.03.17.1992.2368@pilot.njin.net>
birchall@pilot.njin.net (Shag) writes: 
[...]
>	And I think our resident GeoWorker should break with his "no comment"
>policy, and tell us whether GeoWorks is planning to add, or has added, such a
>creature.
>
>	Why?

Exactly.  I'd personally recommend that you write *both* Omen Technology
and Datastorm.  Irregardless of GeoWorks' plans.  Competition is a
wonderful thing.

Also, I think it's sorta rude to ask me to break my promise not to divulge
proprietary information of an employer.  I agreed to abide by GeoWorks'
policy when I joined the firm and I fully intend on keeping my word.  I
also think that I've done a good bit to disseminate information to this
group.  Sorry if I sound testy but...

Thanks,
	John D. Mitchell
	johnm@cory.Berkeley.EDU

P.S.	include standard.employee.disclaimer
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 92 20:46:00 +0200
From: Rudi_Ferrari@con.fido.de (Rudi Ferrari)
Subject: geoworks on tv
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.pcgeos
X-Comment-To: teddy@ut-emx.uucp (Teddy Iglehart [Ted E. Bear])
Organization: Magic Point of C.O.N. Project Cologne  *FRG* 


 > I will also try to summarize the show for posting for those who
 > do miss it and are interested.

Please. I can`t get it, over here in Germany...

bye
      ____
Lambo/Rudi                     >>> internet: Rudi_Ferrari@con.fido.de <<<
~~~~~

---
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.pcgeos
From: dtaylor@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Douglas A Taylor)
Subject: A few FAQ notes
Reply-To: doug-taylor+@osu.edu
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1992 12:14:04 GMT


You may notice that I didn't make any changes to this edition of the
FAQ.  Specifically, I didn't include any of the developer's Q & A's
that John graciously posted.  The reason for this is twofold:

1 - I'm working on a way to put all that neat info in the FAQ without
doubling its size. :-)

2 - I intend to start cross-posting the FAQ to news.answers as soon as
I can.  That will mean that it will automatically be archived at
various ftp sites around the country.  However, it requires that I
make a few slight changes in the format (mainly the addition of some
headers).

With all this in the works, I decided just to let the FAQ stand as is
for now.  I hope to get all this worked out by the next posting in two
weeks.  Thanks for your patience.

-- 
   Doug Taylor                         |   Nothing real can be threatened.
   The Ohio State University           |   Nothing unreal exists.
   doug-taylor+@osu.edu                |            - A Course in Miracles
From: birchall@pilot.njin.net (Shag)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.pcgeos
Subject: Re: GeoWorks' future (was Re: An SDK in 1993, did he say?)
Date: 13 Aug 92 17:34:08 GMT
Organization: Screaming in Digital, the Queensryche Net Digest


dtaylor@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Douglas A Taylor) writes:
>> Maybe we didn't read the same article.  The one I read said that they
>> would restrict the release of the *beta version* of the SDK.  

As I understand it, the beta of the SDK is _already_ in the hands of a hundred
or so third-party developers.  I'm looking forward to seeing it out with 2.0,
sometime around the end of this year, beginning of next.  

-Shag
-- 

     Freedom belongs to only those without video screens for eyes and mouth.
		- Queensryche
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.pcgeos
From: davev@bnr.ca (David Villeneuve)
Subject: Re: This is great stuff!
Keywords: brand-new user; incompatible w/ DRDOS SSTORDRV?
Reply-To: davev@bnr.ca
Organization: Bell-Northern Research
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1992 04:43:21 GMT

In article <22203@sybase.sybase.com>, ganesh@madras.sybase.com (Ganesh Sundaresan) writes:
|> 
....stuff deleted...
|>   I did notice a minor incompatibility with SSTORDRV, the file
|>   compressor that comes with DR-DOS. When I start GEOS with the
|>   SSTORDRV loaded I get a message like 
|>     "Can't find directory in drive D - abort, retry, fail?"
|>   Things work fine after this if I just say "fail". 

     This is in the FAQ list.....

     Just make sure that your compressed drive and your real
     drive (or any drive) does not have the same volume name
     as the one that GEOS is installed on.  Otherwise, it gets
     a little mixed up.  :-)

     I've got DR DOS 6.0 and have no problems running SSTORDRV.
     I wish I had GW PRO, but I've never been offered the 
     upgrade  :-(
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Dave Villeneuve, davev@bnr.ca   | Mail daemon wa canada ni arimasu. 
Bell-Northern Research, JAPAN   | Boku wa nippon ni imasu yo.
My opinions are my own, though please don't quote me on that.
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.pcgeos
From: dtaylor@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Douglas A Taylor)
Subject: Re: Seeing Banyan drives
Reply-To: doug-taylor+@osu.edu
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 12:47:49 GMT

In article <493@grot.ca41.csd.mot.com> FTHOMAS@AZ.intel.com (FLOOD THOMAS; 45692 SP1-83; PE IS MY LIFE) writes:
>Novell and Banyan drives. Is there something special that needs to be done, or
>is network support supposed to be automatic? I would like to see the network
>drives, so that I can cut back on my windows use.

I can't speak for Banyan drives, but I don't do anything special to
get my copy of GWE 1.2 to recognize Novell drives.




-- 
   Doug Taylor                         |   Nothing real can be threatened.
   The Ohio State University           |   Nothing unreal exists.
   doug-taylor+@osu.edu                |            - A Course in Miracles
From: sxfield@acad3.alaska.edu
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.pcgeos
Subject: Re: GeoWorks and EGA requirements
Date: 18 Aug 92 22:53:11 GMT
Organization: University of Alaska Fairbanks


In the 'What to check if you have trouble' section of the manual that came with
GeoWorks Pro, it states in the Video area that the original EGA had 64K and
GeoWorks requires 128K for EGA, so you were right.  I can get the manual and
report it verbatim if you want.  It said the workaround was to use monochrome.

Dennis
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 92 22:13:00 +0200
From: Rudi_Ferrari@con.fido.de (Rudi Ferrari)
Subject: Font Editor for Geos...
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.pcgeos
X-Comment-To: ACDH083%SAUPM00.BITNET@VTVM2.CC.VT.EDU (Nabil)
Organization: Magic Point of C.O.N. Project Cologne  *FRG* 


 > Ok.. I wanted actually.. a Font Editor for GeoWorks Fonts.. Or The
 > Format of The fonts.. to write my Own Editor...

Well, that`s not easy. :-(  Even the prerelease of the SDK Doku don`t
say something about... will be implemented later. I`ve searched too,
but nothing found till yet...

The only way could be finding an editor for Nimbus-Q (seems to be
something official...) and then convert them with the Nimbus-Q
converter of PRO.

Sorry, more I don`t know.

see `ya
      ____
Lambo/Rudi                     >>> internet: Rudi_Ferrari@con.fido.de <<<
~~~~~

---
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.pcgeos
Subject: Re: Internal ZModem in 2.0?
From: harvey_a@kosmos.wcc.govt.nz
Date: Sat, 22 Aug 1992 03:11:42 GMT
Reply-To: harvey_a@kosmos.wcc.govt.nz
Organization: Wellington City Council, Wgtn, NZ

In article <78196@ut-emx.uucp>, teddy@ut-emx.uucp (Teddy Iglehart [Ted E. Bear]) writes:
>I was just wondering if GeoComm would also raise the baud
>choices to 57600 instead of 19200.  When I want to seriously
>download I have to leave geocomm to take advantage of my
>v.32bis

Do you really need to leave GEOS? I know most of the D/Ling that I do is of
ZIP,LZH, or otherwise compressed files anyway.  You don't get any compression
on these, so 14400 is the maximum rate anyway.  If you are D/Ling large
uncompressed files, perhaps you aught to consider compressing them.  Most of
the stand-alone archivers will get you a much better compresssion ratio than
the v42bis does (in my experience anyway).  Granted you do have to leave GEOS
to uncompress them, but that doesn't take long......

It would still be nice to see faster rates though.... 
Roll on the SDK....