Re: TK Added Value Items

On 22 April 2010 11:04, halfmeg <[email protected]> wrote:
> There has been some thought as to what items to include in TK4.  Volker started a TK4 wishlist:
>
> http://www.bsp-gmbh.com/turnkey/tk4wish.html
>
> Notations about what has been added to TK3, items which are still to do and comments from anyone on what they would like to see in the next TK.
>
> The latest of those is a 7171 communications controller which it seems would allow ASCII terminals to connect instead of requiring a 3270 client.  Anyone know about that device and what it would take to implement?

The 7171 was IBM's packaged-up version of the Yale ASCII program that
was developed by Yale's famous Howard Gilbert, and ran on the IBM
Series/1 hardware. I don't know if the 7171 is a Series/1 under the
covers, or a reimplementation for another, and perhaps cheaper,
platform.

I'm not sure what the desired result of such support is. If you want
actually functionality, just use a TN3270 on the desktop platform of
your choice. If you want authenticity, use a real 327x, perhaps
connected via a token-ring 3174. Or use a line-mode ASCII terminal
connected via the 270x support.

It seems to me the only result of putting in 7171 support would be,
well, 7171 support, and that surely appeals to a small group.

Tony H.