[ct-user] Has anybody used a Dell System with CT?

Michael Walker Michael Walker <mike.walker@home.com>
Wed, 29 Nov 2000 07:44:07 -0500


Frank

It isn't really a problem.

In the DOS world, the program (CT) has direct control over the hardware 
(serial ports, parallel ports, video, etc).   We need to tell CT how the 
hardware is configured.  (Memory addresses and interrupts).  As long as you 
can do this, then you won't have a problem.  DOS does one thing at a time 
and does it well.

In the Windows, or Unix world, we have many programs that want to use the 
hardware at any given time as it is a multi-tasking operating system.  We 
define the hardware to the Operating systems and the programs talk to the 
OS directly (not the hardware).  This is why CW doesn't work well under 
Windows.  CT has to tell Windows to send a DIT and then the OS tells the 
parallel port to send the dit.  If the OS is busy, then it takes longer to 
do this.  This is why there are some CW daughter boards.

So, if you really like CT and want it to work the way it was designed, keep 
your 386  (or your 486) and your 14" VGA monitor and use it only for 
CT.  Or, if space is a premium, buy a video switch to switch back and forth.

Hope that helps.  In the end, your new machine should be just fine, just 
make sure you boot it in Native DOS mode for your best performance.

Mike

*********************************************************
Mike Walker                          Corbeil Contest Club
VA3MW                                                FN03

CLX Custer - telnet//:va3mw.homeip.net:41112
*********************************************************
new email address:  mike.walker@home.com

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