CompuServe Thread

Ed, an Amiga 500 is a nice machine, and can be updated. Your friend would be able to use more of the newer software – including a very nice navigator for CIS – if he upgraded the OS to 2.1 or 3.1, but it is quite workable just as it is, using the older software. Scribble was a very popular word processor a few years ago. The author of it participates here, and has indicated he might decide to do an update if the Amigas begin selling again – due to begin in September or October. There are some PC emulators available for the Amiga, but they are very slow and would not work very well with a 14400 modem. There are a number of terminal programs in our libraries that would work well with it, but he'd have to learn to navigate on his own, and that is not terribly easy to do.If he wants to handle his mail using a simple terminal program, I'd suggest that he try BACKTALK. It's in our library 5, BT???.LZH, I think. The questions are for version number, and I don't recall what they are. You could locate it easily by just searching for BT*.*. It uses B+ protocols as default, and is a nice little term that will handle things well here. Upgrading his machine enough to manage our AutoPIlot navigator would take a bit of doing, though. It requires at least 2M of memory, preferably 3; desperately needs a hard disk with about 5M free, and at least OS2.04. We just don't have another automatic navigator that will work with older hardware. I hope this is not too discouraging for your friend. IF you have other questions, please ask. —Betty

Ed, <I thought I'd get some opinions on the practicality of upgrading his machine vs. buying a new one. Any thoughts, ideas (even derisive ones) or pointers will trully be appreciated.> A lot hinges on what he wants to use the computer for. If he's mainly into word processing and a little telecom, he could upgrade that A500 and probably be quite happy with it for a while. If he wants to get into graphics, play any of the latest games, or get onto the internet, he might be better to buy an A1200 when they start shipping again. He can upgrade his A500 to OS 3.1, put in some memory and attach a harddrive, but it sounds like you, or someone else may have to actually do this for him. If there is a good dealer in your area this may be the way to go for him. On the other hand, if he wants something simple and still supported (with 3rd party hardware) he should go for the A1200. As for using the A500 as it is, to get online here, he can use a simple terminal program (I'd suggest Terminus, which is available here). We do have a lovely front end called AutoPilot, but your friend would need at least OS 2.04, 3 megs of memory (at least 1 chip) and a harddrive is strongly suggested. If he decides to go for an A1200 (most come with harddrives or they can be added later easily) this would work quite well. If you or your friend have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask! Just a couple of thoughts… Asha @}–`–,-

Re saving documents in Scribble: Page 24 and/or page 84 of the manual (he does have a manual, doesn't he?) says "select menu PROJECT, item ARCHIVE, submenu item DOCUMENTS. Alternatively, press right-Amiga D. You'll get a requestor: fill in the desired file name in the appropriate area and then click on the STORE gadget. You'll be asked if you want to add a file comment, and then the save action is under way. Return to the document by clicking on RESUME. There are a few decent communications programs available for the 1.3 Amiga, but none of them has customized features for CompuServe usage. You'll find Backtalk in one of the libraries here; alternatively, Handshake may be found on one of the Fred Fish disks. –Jim