HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: ijp@doc.ic.ac.uk (Ian Palmer)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Re: Software Protection (was: >>>New !Creator)
Date: 10 Apr 92 10:25:22 GMT
Distribution: comp
Organization: Department of Computing, Imperial College, University of London, UK.

In article <1992Apr10.004450.14589@cs.aukuni.ac.nz> jwil1@cs.aukuni.ac.nz (TMOTA) writes:
>switham@acorn.co.uk (Sean Witham) writes:
>>I'm not fan of the dongle but I prefeer it to any other form of protection I
>>have come across so far as it allows me to use my piece of software on any
>>machine I use and I can also lend it for use to someone else. Of course while
>>I lend it to someone else I myself can't use it but then that seems fair.
>
>I agree, but I hate it when the dongle falls out of the back of the machine
>and Impression doesn't give me a chance to re-insert it! Arrrrgh!
>

Just imagine the situation if every commercial piece of software used
the dongle idea....

Perhaps people should think of the consequences of their actions when
they invent thses kind of things.

Although having said that I gather that RD's protection system for
Ovation is even worse, as (as I understand it) you get a disc which
has an instillation program which installs Ovation on another disc
(eg. hard disc). This instillation can only be done twice (although
you can deinstall a version, which will allow you to reinstall it
again). But if you are unable to deinstall it (eg. hard disc becomes
corrupted) you can only have two failures before you are unable to use
the program at all. (And quite what stops you copying the installed
version I don't know, but I guess there must be something, or the
whole thing becomes a waste of time).

Even worse has to be the usual form of protection (particularly games)
where you can't copy the disc (well not easily). I personally think
this is a disaster, as I hate operating from the origional under any
circumstances.

Generally speaking protection systems tend only to anoy users, and
usually are fairly simple to crack.

Ian
-- 
                            E-mail : ijp@doc.ic.ac.uk
 ___           __       Snail mail : Department of Computing, Huxley Building,
  /  _   _    /_/ _   / _ _   _  _   Imperial College, 180 Queens Gate,
_/_ (_|_| )  /   (_|_(_| ) )_|/_)    London. SW7 2BZ. England.
From: torq@hal.gnu.ai.mit.edu (Andy Mell)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: PC Emulator 1.8
Date: 10 Apr 92 21:09:07 GMT

I understand that version 1.8 of the PC emulator has been released, It is
said to include support for VGA graphics and Extended Memory. 
(the full details are in the May Acorn User)

I am curious as to what level VGA is supported to? Is it a 16 colour or a
256 colour implementation? If 256 colours, how is a full VGA palette
displayed on screen within the palette constraints of the archimedes?

A minor suggestion, how difficult would it be to emulate a 386 on the arc
as opposed to the 80186? I ask as many programs nowadays require the 
real/protected modes of the 386.

Andy
From: banksie@khantazi.welly.gen.nz (Philip R. Banks)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Re: New ARM development
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 1992 18:24:05 +1200
Reply-To: banks_p@kosmos.wcc.govt.nz
Organization: My Arc.

dseal@armltd.co.uk (David Seal) writes:

> In article <16g2Ppj013n@khantazi.welly.gen.nz> banksie@khantazi.welly.gen.nz
> (Philip R. Banks) writes:
> 
> >ca121@cs.city.ac.uk (D BROWNLEE) writes:

> >>Date: 31 Mar 92 20:19:22 GMT
> 
> I don't think he did. Work out what time and date that is in New Zealand :-)


   <Cough> <Splutter> <cough>. How could I forget it? However it wasn't
April 1st in the Uk at that time, which is where the article was posted
from, so my point still stands.... (It is rather like saying 'Evening' when
greeting someone. You know that *somewhere* in the world your right....but
it doesn't make it right as you are describing a local condition.)

    Philip

--
Philip R. Banks                                                         @@@@@/|
Syntax: mail <banks_p@kosmos.wcc.govt.nz|banksie@khantazi.welly.gen.nz> @@@@/#|
                                                                        @@@/##|
What price the crown of a king on his throne,                           @@/---|
When you're chained in the dark all alone?  ---A.P.P.                   @/    |
From: dhmyrdal@SOLAN.UNIT.NO (Dag H}kon Myrdal)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Re: Acorn
Date: 12 Apr 92 19:54:58 GMT
Organization: University of Trondheim

In article <1992Apr12.171056.7376@waikato.ac.nz> bwc writes:
[...]
>Yes.  Then again, the monitor bundled with the A5000 is not the greatest.

Neither is the standard VGA monitors you will get thrown in when buying a 
PC system...

>> (2) Adobe Type Manager, which gives similar performance (IMHO not as good
>>     as Acorn's, but nevertheless...) is said to be a part of Windows 3.1
>
>No.  Microsoft have bundled TrueType with Windows 3.1.  TrueType is the Apple
>font format for System 7, and is said to be a bit faster that Adobe Type 1
>stuff.

"I stand corrected"...  :-)
 
>I had heard a rumour that Acorn were considering TrueType also.

Hmm, why did they choose to make their own, then?
>
>> (3) When you buy a printer, it is now common practise to get a printer driver
>>     for Windows with it... (IMHO Acorn's solution is still better... :-)
>
>Why?  Whether you get a specific printer driver for your printer, or a generic
>one, just as long as it works is all that counts.

Well, consider the following situation:
I have a dot/matrix printer. If I use this, all three solutions is OK.
Whether I get printer drivers with the printer, with each program or with the
system really doesn`t matter much. (Except that one printer driver per system
is a lot better than per program due to a large waste of disc space)
Now, what if I was to output to a friend`s plotter, the uni`s PostScript
laser printers or to some Gerber plotter? If I only got printer drivers with
each printer, that would prove impossible!

[...]



//Dag Haakon

--Dag Haakon Myrdal,             dhmyrdal@solan.unit.no -
-  Hands Phingerpherdigheed Werchsmeisteren,            -
-  Omega Verksted,               ED-avd, N-7034 NTH     -
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From: kortink@cs.utwente.nl (John Kortink)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: New versions of Translator, Creator, etc.
Date: 7 Apr 92 13:39:48 GMT
Organization: University of Twente, Dept. of Computer Science

ssurawls@susssys1.reading.ac.uk (Mister E) proclaims :

>Ok, Mr kortink has been rambling and misunderstanding me again, so I think I
>shall continue our little argument by EMAIL.
>[... Mr. Ramblings continues to complain *he* is *tired* of it all, oh dear,
> he must be, after three raging postings ...]

We do *not* continue in any way. I have much better things to do.

As there's no way of teaching you what is fact and what is read between
the lines and proclaimed as fact by you, especially concerning *me* and
what *I think* (I know another person who is like this, hi Wally), I just
didn't bother. It's such an *ENORMOUS* amount.

Your mail and postings will be categorically ignored, unless I detect
something meaningful, fact-like or cooperative (which would be a first).

And could we please shut the f**k up about the registration business,
and could people who use my software without registering *not* let this be
known in *public*, right in front of me ? I refuse to keep my mouth shut
when people have the cheek to do so. Silly me, eh ? You know who you are.

( Needless to say, this is all meant have a humouristic tone, ---> ;-) )

( And now something completely different : )

Also, new versions of Translator, Creator and GreyEdit are available from me.
Registered people, mail me, quoting snail & mail address. Others : go ahead,
waste some bytes.

New versions of PackDir, DiscInfo, ModeInfo and FileAct will appear soon
on Newcastle. May also be requested directly from me by registered people.
Enjoy, co-operative and other people alike.

John Kortink

Student of Informatics at the University of Twente, The Netherlands
NETMAIL : kortink@cs.utwente.nl          DISCLAIMER : you know .... 

Those who can, do. Those who can't, simulate.
From: r_voisey@csd.brispoly.ac.uk (R Voisey)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Morley SCSI and A5000
Date: 7 Apr 92 13:53:05 GMT
Organization: Bristol Polytechnic, England

Hi folks..

If anyone is using a Morley 16 bit uncached SCSI card with their A5000 I'd
be interested to know if you've experienced any problems.  My card crashes
during intensive operations such as copying large files.  At least, the
machine locks up (mouse pointer _not_ frozen, ctrl-break resets, but quitter
modules have no effect) but whether RISCOS-3 or SCSIFS is to blame I
know not...

Morley sent me the latest ROM (1.08 - Feb 92) but it hasn't cured the
problem.  They claim that lots of people are using their card with the
A5000 with no (insurmountable) problems - including their Acorn sales rep.

Likewise, Acorn say it's not their problem.  They recently replaced my
motherboard (with another issue 1 board <sigh>) and that has not fixed the
problem (although it fixed plenty of other problems).

Any comments/advice welcome!  I'll summarise any emails.

Incidently, I think I should comment on Acorn's customer support service.
When my machine developed faults (including the ubiquitous dead serial port)
they arranged to collect it to replace the motherboard.  It was collected
last Thursday.  First thing Monday morning the couriers returned my machine,
with all problems fixed (apart from the SCSI problem - which probably isn't
Acorns fault).   I think a two day turnaround is pretty good by any standards!
Well done Acorn!

Bob

-- 
Robert J. Voisey  :  r_voisey@csd.brispoly.ac.uk   (Janet)
                     root@tncs.atlantis.tharr.UUCP (There's a challenge..)
Real coders do it    Bob Voisey @ 2:252/106.0      (Fidonet)
on interrupts!       Bob Voisey @ 1030             (Fnet)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Re: 8 bit stuff... (inc. postings & moderation)
From: jwil1@cs.aukuni.ac.nz (TMOTA)
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1992 22:35:38 GMT
Distribution: comp
Organization: Computer Science Dept. University of Auckland

aglover@acorn.co.uk (Alan Glover) writes:

>We noticed Edouard's offer - what do **YOU** think ? Is there anyone
>else out there who might like to have a go at running the groups.

>One thought would be arrange a fixed tenure - eg 12 months.

Edouard and I can only guarantee to have accounts here until about
Jan or Feb next year anyway, so this would be a good idea anyway.

>I would be quite happy to stand down if the net concensus is that a
>change is a good idea (... certainly it's likely to better than the
>present posting rate we're achieveing :-/ ). 

Well, my personal opinion is that we have nothing to lose... the more
moderators there are, the greater the chance of someone being able to
post something... certainly people such as Edouard and myself have more
time (how much time does a thesis take, anyway ;-) than people who work
for a living (not implying we don't work...but...) to actually spend on
moderation... The other benefit is that when we receive any PD software,
we automatically spend a while seeing what it will do, so we wouldn;t
be doing all that much more than we already do anyway!

My only desire is to see a higher posting rate on cba, and any posting rate
at all on c.sources.a ;-)

So I'm not after a change to Edouard & myself, so much as addition...
unless you feel that we are doing a good enough job for you to leave it
all to us... What about a trial period? If you ain't happy, you can fire
us!

-- 
_________________  "I'd like to answer this question in two ways:
  /____ _ _/_ __       First in my normal voice, and then
 // / //_//_ /_/       in a silly, high-pitched whine." (Monty Python)
From: D.M.Johnson@newcastle.ac.uk (Dave Johnson)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Well done Acorn!!!!!!
Date: 13 Apr 92 23:31:13 GMT
Organization: University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, NE1 7RU


I have just seen a program about the BBC computer literacy project. It was
amazing to discover that Acorn had developed a working prototype for the BBC
model computer in just 4 days. Out of interest how long did the Archimedes
take?

Dave Johnson
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Re: Software Protection (was: >>>New !Creator)
From: jwil1@cs.aukuni.ac.nz (TMOTA)
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1992 00:44:50 GMT
Distribution: comp
Organization: Computer Science Dept. University of Auckland

switham@acorn.co.uk (Sean Witham) writes:
>I'm not fan of the dongle but I prefeer it to any other form of protection I
>have come across so far as it allows me to use my piece of software on any
>machine I use and I can also lend it for use to someone else. Of course while
>I lend it to someone else I myself can't use it but then that seems fair.

I agree, but I hate it when the dongle falls out of the back of the machine
and Impression doesn't give me a chance to re-insert it! Arrrrgh!

-- 
_________________  "I'd like to answer this question in two ways:
  /____ _ _/_ __       First in my normal voice, and then
 // / //_//_ /_/       in a silly, high-pitched whine." (Monty Python)
From: ssurawls@susssys1.reading.ac.uk (Mister E)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: >Arm and 486 and things
Date: 8 Apr 92 15:10:11 GMT

mrp@minster wrote;

> in the current issue of pcw there was a little ad. seeking PC
>programmers, experienced in windows grpahics and assembler, to work on
>a graphics application.  The ad. was placed by Computer Concepts.
>
>Any thoughts, obvious conclusions?
>
> - martin.

Eeek! A PC version of Impression?? What next, Risc-OS! :-)

Do computer concepts still make Atari ST programs? They were going to produce
a package called "Calamus" I think, but there was some kind of legal wrangle
with the author and so they had to drop it. I think the ideas became
Impression.

It seems like quite a few Acorn people are involved in the PC market. There is
Acorn, CC now it seems, DT software, Minerva, Yukford Electronics (sorry
Joust!), etc.

What about Oak? I have seen a lot of PCs on campus with "Oak Technology" VGA
boards and other such stuff. Same company?

Ian


Posted Wed Apr 8 16:10:03 BST 1992

=+=+=+=+=+ 8< =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ 8< =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ 8< =+=+=+=+=+=+=+
Mr Ian Rawlings, Telephone Reading (0734) 662301
	EMAIL ssurawls@susssys1.rdg.ac.uk

        I went down the street to the 24-hour grocery.  When I got
        there, the guy was locking the front door.  I said, "Hey, the
        sign says you're open 24 hours."  He said, "Yes, but not in a
        row."
From: shunger@waikato.ac.nz
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: HD interfaces and MIDI programs
Date: 13 Apr 92 09:44:28 +1200
Organization: University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

Has anyone tried/tested/heard about MacFiler available from A.R.X.E systems ?
This apparently enables Mac HD disks to be read ( so long as your arc has a
HD interface )

D.T Software (Cambridge) also produces a HD interface for the arc,
The A.R.X.E HD interface can be upgraded to Octal density at a later date

Also (another item) has anyone seen/tested the MIDI sequencer from 
The Serial Port ( or vertical twist )

Thanx in advance
From: ssurawls@susssys1.reading.ac.uk (Mister E)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: The end of "More bollocks from Mr. Rawlings"
Date: 5 Apr 92 12:56:38 GMT

Ok, Mr kortink has been rambling and misunderstanding me again, so I think I
shall continue our little argument by EMAIL. I'm sure that all of you will be
relieved at this, as I bet you're all as fed up as I am of this, it's just
that I have to get the last word!

Ian


Posted Sun Apr 5 13:56:34 BST 1992

=+=+=+=+=+ 8< =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ 8< =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ 8< =+=+=+=+=+=+=+
Mr Ian Rawlings, Telephone Reading (0734) 662301
	EMAIL ssurawls@susssys1.rdg.ac.uk

       The piano has been drinking
       My necktie's asleep
       The barstools need a haircut
       And the jukebox has to take a leek
 
 
       16 shells from a thirty-ought-six
From: stuart@hpopd.pwd.hp.com (Stuart Hickinbottom)
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 1992 10:57:18 GMT
Subject: Re: !ModelPlus, !Rayshade and the Acorn show in Reading
Organization: Hewlett-Packard NSG-PWD, UK.
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn

/ hpopd:comp.sys.acorn / goodwin@edieng.enet.dec.com (Pete Goodwin) /  8:41 am  Apr  6, 1992 /

> Anyone else go to the Acorn show in Reading?

What Acorn show???

> 
> Pete Goodwin
> goodwin@system.enet.dec.com
> ----------

/*****************************************************************************
Stuart Hickinbottom          PHONE: +44 344 763161
Hewlett Packard Ltd            FAX: +44 344 763429
Nine Mile Ride            OPENMAIL: Stuart Hickinbottom/pinewood,lab,hpopd
Wokingham                   HPDESK: Stuart Hickinbottom/HP1600/LB
Berkshire                Unix Mail: stuart@hpopd.pwd.hp.com
RG11 3LL                      X400: C=GB; ADMD=GOLD 400; PRMD=HP; ORG=HP;
ENGLAND                              OU1=Pinewood; SN=Hickinbottom; GN=Stuart
*****************************************************************************/
All opinions are my own only.
From: /G=Rhodri/S=James/O=SJ-Research/ADMD=INTERSPAN/C=GB/@MHS-RELAY.AC.UK
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Re: A5000 disc format recognising
Date: 9 Apr 92 15:09:23 GMT

I (/G=Rhodri/S=James/O=SJ-Research/ADMD=INTERSPAN/C=GB/@mhs-relay.ac.uk) said:
>From the collected works of ssurawls@susssys1.reading.ac.uk (Mister E):

>>Does the A5000 recognise its disc types automatically and can you override
>>them? What I mean is if you put a 2 meg disc in and select format does it
>>default to 1.6 meg or 800K, and could you force it to format a 2 meg disc to
>>800K?

>No, it doesn't recognise the disc coating.  Think about it for a minute.

Sorry Ian, I gumbied.  I hadn't noticed the different dents in the end (I
always blamed them on the mice anyway :-) for different density discs.  This
is what comes of going off half-cocked with insufficient knowledge of the
area.  My second point stands, though.

---
Rhodri James                   *  Disclaimer:  These are my opinions, not
SJ Research Ltd, Cambridge     *    those of my company UNLESS I SAY SO!
Rhodri.James%gb.INTERSPAN.sj   *  
            @mhs-relay.ac.uk   *  
   or                          *             Wombats are go!
rmj10@phx.cam.ac.uk            *
From: zzassgl@uts.mcc.ac.uk (Geoff Lane)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Selling Arcs to Universities/polys (was Re: >>Personal Computer World)
Date: 10 Apr 92 07:59:03 GMT
Organization: Manchester Computing Centre, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, England.

In article <1992Apr8.223144.13043@comp.vuw.ac.nz> Gavin.Flower@comp.vuw.ac.nz (Gavin Flower) writes:
>Now I know why Acorn doesn't sell Arcs to universities - they prefer them to buy
>Macs, that way, when these Arc owners, that complain so bitterly, get to 
>university, they are forced to use Macs and become "born again" Acorn converts! :-)
>(Yes I HAVE heard rumours that some universities DO have Arcimedes.)
>Gavin

There are many factors that limit the sales of Arcs into Universities and
Polys. Here at Manchester everything is set up on the assumption that you
will be using some kind of IBM clone machine. Hardware and software support
is only available for IBM clones. Hardware and software discount deals are
only available for IBM clones. Staff member machines can only be selected
from a standard range of OPUS clone machines (at least within most
departments - I think that some of the arts people managed to get Macs.) The
only network protocol that is properly supported by the PC support staff is
Novell. 

You can buck the system if you have independent funding and are prepared to
organize all your own discount and support deals but it is hard work and
most people just accept the situation. I did, and now suffer from Windows 3,
the WIMP from hell. 

-- 
Geoff. Lane.                                  Janet: zzassgl@uk.ac.mcc.uts
UTS Sys Admin, Manchester Computing Centre, Oxford Rd, Manchester, M13 9PL
From: dbh@doc.ic.ac.uk (Denis Howe)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Re: Karma
Date: 14 Apr 92 17:11:13 GMT
	<1992Apr10.110557.18171@unix.brighton.ac.uk>
Organization: Computing Department, Imperial College, London, UK

Rich Browning <rjb12@unix.brighton.ac.uk> wrote:

>By the way (2), Periscope have released v.0.5 of the Flight Trainer

Huh?  v.0.5?  I started on 1.00 and now have 1.05.  Does this mean
they're undeveloping it (restoring old bugs, removing features)?  or
did I fly too close to that black hole?  :-)

Anyway, it's nice to know there are two of us. ;-D
--
Denis Howe <dbh@doc.ic.ac.uk>	virus infected .sig - do not copy
From: sproven@cs.strath.ac.uk (Simon B Proven IE91)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Re: Software Protection (was: >>>New !Creator)
Date: 10 Apr 92 11:41:14 GMT
Distribution: comp
Organization: Comp. Sci. Dept., Strathclyde Univ., Glasgow, Scotland.

In article <1992Apr10.004450.14589@cs.aukuni.ac.nz> jwil1@cs.aukuni.ac.nz (TMOTA) writes:
>switham@acorn.co.uk (Sean Witham) writes:
>> [ about dongles being the best protection method ]
>
>I agree, but I hate it when the dongle falls out of the back of the machine
>and Impression doesn't give me a chance to re-insert it! Arrrrgh!

Handy hint no. 101:

Screw the bloody thing in! :)

> TMOTA

+-- Simon "Mad@Bike" Proven ---------------------------------------------+
|- _ -  - _ -   .__o    /  <sproven@cs.strath.ac.uk> or                  |
|-  -  - _ -  _-\_<,   /   <caa650@ccsun.strath.ac.uk>                   | 
\____________(*)/'(*)_/____Real_peeps_ride_bike_:)_______________________/
From: mcg@waikato.ac.nz
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Re: SVGA Monitors on Arc?
Date: 14 Apr 92 10:59:02 +1200
Organization: University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

> 	I was wondering if it is possible to attach a SVGA or VGA monitor to
> the Arc? I can get the adapter to change the 15pin VGA plug to the Arc's 9pin.
> Would the syncs be the same? I heard that it is possible to use VGA monitors
> with it, but you are limited to 640x480... if I get a SVGA, would it be
> possible to handle the higher res modes?

See A5000 guide (even if you don't have the computer) for the modes that SVGA 
are capable of handling...

I think it might even be in the RISC os2 manuals somewhere  (don't quote me on
this).

	Martin.
From: mcg@waikato.ac.nz
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Re: !impression - so how good is it?
Date: 14 Apr 92 21:59:24 GMT
Organization: University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

> 
> For my purposes !impression seems as good as any and easier to use than most.
> It seems to have a lot similarities to Ami-Pro (ver 2) in the way that it
> works. It rarely seems to crash now,  certainly not as frequently as things

A good summation of Impression is that it's a full DTP program. WordPerfect and
others like MacWrite (don't quote me on this) are only WordProcessors... 
to get DTP you need some other application like PageMaker....


> There some things I would like to see for !Impression
> 
> A chemical structure drawing program that runs on the Arch.  At present I can
> move files from ChemWindows (PC) but this is not very convenient.  Anyone know
> of such a program?
> 

Have you tried !Draw - seems good enough depending on what model you're using
for the chemical structures (stick or molecular???)
Possibly !Equasor would do the job, but it's more mathematiclly orientated.