CompuServe Thread

#SupraFax 9600

32 messages in this thread
#33778From: Mike BaetscherJan 16, 1992 3:12 PM
Ben Why do you write "Depends on if they really release….." . It was announced even here in Europe and I've ordered one (together with some friends) at a local shop. Do you think it's just vaporware? Mike
#33787From: Michael GerardJan 16, 1992 5:47 PM
Mike: I spoke with Supra about three weeks ago and thehy still did not have any FAX software available… They are actively and publicly looking for someone to provide Amiga software for their Fax/modem. – Whapp!ng from the North Coast Michael
#33816From: John DraperJan 16, 1992 11:38 PM
I don't know about the 'actively and publically' part. I know one fellow who leaped to the nearest phone and called when he heard they were looking for an author. His only comment after talking to them was "Geez, everyone wants something for nothing." -larry
#33829From: Michael GerardJan 17, 1992 1:53 AM
"Geez, everyone wants something for nothing." That's really a shame. GVP is due out with their communications board for the Amiga in a couple of months; Voice-mail, FAX, fax w/sound. It's supposed to retail at around $350, and could end up being the unit of choice for the Amiga. – Whapp!ng from the North Coast Michael
#33832From: John DraperJan 17, 1992 1:57 AM
A lot will depend on what gets written for the Supra unit. They have stated that the voice capability amd caller ID will be available mid-year. -larry
#33848From: Denny Atkin [COMPUTE/AmiJan 17, 1992 11:14 AM
At the price of that SupraModem, perhaps it will get enough market penetration for an Amigan to consider writing a fax package as stand-alone, sold-separately software. Is there any sort of faxing hardware standard–in other words, would it be relatively simple for an author to support 4 or 5 fax modems, or would it be pretty much different code for each one?
#33851From: John DraperJan 17, 1992 12:18 PM
Denny, I fully expect fax software to appear before too long. In fact, there are a coupleofpackages already, though it is unclear to me as to what modem(s) they willwork on. I don'tknowenough about it to know if the command sets are standard or modem-dependent. I'll find out though.:-) -larry
#33885From: Black Belt SystemsJan 17, 1992 9:30 PM
There is a standard (sort of) called "Class II". The Supra modem supports this, and so do many modems for the PC and the Mac. I don't know about the GVP modem, though – it's not out yet. –Ben
#33966From: Steve SetzerJan 18, 1992 10:46 PM
Michael, What is this about a GVP fax, voice mail board?!?! 1st I've heard abot it, do you have any more info?! Sounds like what I was going to by a `yuck' clone for! ..Steve Whap!ping from beautiful coastal South Carolina
#33981From: Black Belt SystemsJan 19, 1992 1:38 AM
It's not out yet – but it's "real" in the sense that they are certainly developing such a thing. It'll be interesting to see what the price-point is for it, and what kind of market response they get. –Ben
#34019From: Steve AhlstromJan 19, 1992 3:08 PM
Ben, I've heard rumors about GVP's fax/voice mail board too. I've also heard it does not include a data modem. If that is the case, unless they're giving it away, I don't think it'll do well now that the Rockwell 9600/fax chipset is in mass production — meaning under $200 v.32bis/fax modems by the end of the year. -sja
#34049From: Black Belt SystemsJan 20, 1992 1:24 AM
All I know is that it's not here yet, but is really on the way. GVP has a way of producing good hardware, most of the time. Certainly they have a better track record than most other Amiga suppliers. –Ben
#34073From: Steve SetzerJan 20, 1992 4:24 PM
Ben, Thanx for the reply re GVP Fax/voicemail….and for putting up with talk of a competitors product on your forum. The sign of a real gentleman. (pk wouldn't put up with it ;-> ) ..Steve Whap!ping from beautiful coastal South Carolina
#34145From: Black Belt SystemsJan 21, 1992 7:25 PM
Perry might. Don't sell him that short – he's more mad at us in particular, I think. Anyway, no problem. As long as things stay civil and constructive, say whatever you like. –Ben
#33984From: Michael GerardJan 19, 1992 1:38 AM
Steve: The board is called PhonePak… with it, you can view a FAX on screen and listen to a message about that fax at the same time… multimedia facsimile. Built in scheduler, auto-redial. Full voice mail capability. Separate mailboxes for faxmail & voice mail (multiple users). According to the Ad Slick GVP sent me, "…amything fax machines, answering machines, and voicemail systems can do, PhonePak can do". Price hasn't been set yet, but they expect it to list at around $350, and it's due for release around 4/1/92 – Whapp!ng from the North Coast Michael
#34074From: Steve SetzerJan 20, 1992 4:24 PM
Thanx for the info Mike! Sounds like just what I am looking for. GVP has some advance litrature on it? I guess I will have give em a call. With the advent of all the new hardware products coming out it looks like the amy is finally becoming a viable general business machine, now all we need is a top notch spreadsheet (one with animated graphs!!) ..Steve Whap!ping from beautiful coastal South Carolina
#34118From: Michael GerardJan 21, 1992 7:27 AM
"GVP has some advance litrature on it?" Steve: All they had available last week was an AD, full page, same style as their AmigaWorld/Amazing ads. They faxed me a copy of it. – Whapp!ng from the North Coast Michael
#33855From: SyndesisJan 17, 1992 12:53 PM
Let me guess, they offered to give him a modem to help with the development? 🙂
#33876From: John DraperJan 17, 1992 9:03 PM
Heh heh.. I don't know the details… I just left it at that, and know full well how prevalent that attitude is. Depending on the product, getting a free one in return for software can be excellent or poor, of course, depending on the product and how much effort is neded to write the software. -larry
#33857From: Steve AhlstromJan 17, 1992 1:09 PM
Michael, Yes, Supra is "actively and publicly looking for someone to provide Amiga software for their Fax/modem". They are also only interested in a freebie and have no desire to actually pay someone to provide that software. -sja
#33899From: Michael GerardJan 17, 1992 11:28 PM
Steve, I don't get it. IS the market that small that they can't make any investment in software development? – Whapp!ng from the North Coast Michael
#33906From: Steve AhlstromJan 18, 1992 12:19 AM
Michael, Give them a call and ask — I don't know what their reasoning is, altho I've got a good idea.
#33982From: Michael GerardJan 19, 1992 1:38 AM
"Give them a call and ask…" Steve: I'm sorry; do you mean ask them if they are going to live up to their ads and provide an Amiga Fax/Modem or ask them why they won't pay those who have approached them for the software? – Whapp!ng from the North Coast Michael
#33991From: Steve AhlstromJan 19, 1992 1:57 AM
Michael, Whatever you want to ask them. I personally don't care about the fax ability — I've got a ClickFax and a phone fax — I'm covered for my needs. I'm looking at one of their ads now — there isn't a mention of Amiga at all. (back page, Jan. issue of CompuServe Magazine)
#34052From: Black Belt SystemsJan 20, 1992 1:25 AM
The ads _specifically_ say "fax software for Amiga not included", so they aren't fooling with you. –Ben
#34097From: Nick MurrayJan 20, 1992 9:18 PM
Ben, will your Fax software work with the Supra? Do you sell the software seperately? You've probably already mentioned this but I missed the beginning of the thread. Nick
#34154From: Black Belt SystemsJan 21, 1992 8:16 PM
No, it will not at this time. We do not sell it separately at this time. There is no telling what we'll do "later". We'll have to see when the Supra becomes available. So far, I know of no dealer who has seen one, much less an end-user. –Ben
#34159From: Denny Atkin [COMPUTE/AmiJan 21, 1992 9:41 PM
Ben, I've hear February 10 bandied about as a release date for those modems.
#34198From: Black Belt SystemsJan 22, 1992 9:37 PM
We're just as interested as potential customers are. I hope to see them soon. –Ben
#33809From: Black Belt SystemsJan 16, 1992 10:32 PM
My dealer can't get them yet. I've come to the position that if it's not out, it's not real. And in fact, the dealer can't even get the 2400 baud ones (yet), and he's been told the 9600 will be considerably later. That's all I know about it. We won't lift a single finger until the modem (the 9600) is *on* the market, and we've told Supra that specifically. They wanted us to support their 2400 baud modem, but we're not really interested in that, we've already GOT one. –Ben
#33856From: SyndesisJan 17, 1992 12:54 PM
I saw them at COMDEX – they had a phone-line emulation box to connect the two FAX modems, and I saw them "fax" from PC to Mac.
#34020From: Mike BaetscherJan 19, 1992 3:36 PM
Ben Ok, then I'll have to wait (But I hope the SupraFaxModem's will come one day….. 😉 Bye Mike