Msg: 2279 *Conference*

04-06-92 15:18:27

From: TRACY ALLEN

To : RICK LOPES

Subj: REPLY TO MSG #2243 (HP 95LX)

Dear Rick,
  That's right, the HP95LX is a fancy notepad/calculator.  It also has a fancy
phonebook utility and schedule program, as well as Lotus123 and the
communications utilities, not to mention DOS.   There is a lot there to learn
about, and it makes a very entertaining toy for days and days, just to explore
the features.  But I still like the 102 better generally.  The 102 lets you do
serious writing, which you can't do on the '95 because of the small keyboard,
and the 102 has BASIC easily accessible.  Programming on the '95 is something
you have to get at through DOS, and not much info is available about the ROM.
I understand that someone did a disassembly of just the command processor in
the '95 and came up with over two megabytes of source code!
  
  The machine was programmed (I hear) by Lotus, not by HP.  The whole
interface, all the applications, works like Lotus123, which is kind of nice,
that consitency.  It is nicely done.  You can have all the applications open at
once and switch between them easily and consistently.  
 The Lotus123 implemetation on the '95 appears to be very complete.  That
includes all the macro functions, including databse functions.  The only
commands that don't work are those that explicitly address a larger screen.
The small screen is somewhat of a problem for building an exploratory database
or sheet, but I think it should be fine for something that is well structured.
They have provided ample movement commands, gotos and finds.  I am more
familiar with menu-driven spreadsheet, EXCEL, on my Mac.  But the Lotus
keyboard commands are really fast and consistent.  Rick Hanson is the master of
Lotus!  He guided to a quick appreciation of its power.  
  
 BTW, Rick, did you get the Lotus123 for the Mac?  Lotus came to a BMUG meeting
a couple of weeks ago and offered Lotus for $49, so I took them up on it.  But
it really isn't suitable for the kinds of data I deal with.  But the database
functions are awesome.
  
  -- Tracy