Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!hou3c!hocda!houxm!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!uiucdcs!uicsg!mzp From: mzp@uicsg.UUCP Newsgroups: net.micro.cbm Subject: Re: DON'T GET MAE/Merlin review - (nf) Message-ID: <5728@uiucdcs.UUCP> Date: Fri, 17-Feb-84 22:51:05 EST Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.5728 Posted: Fri Feb 17 22:51:05 1984 Date-Received: Mon, 20-Feb-84 07:12:33 EST Lines: 35 #R:pur-phy:-119100:uicsg:18200001:000:1622 uicsg!mzp Feb 17 09:27:00 1984 I find your description of Merlin somewhat appealing, although I cannot understand your avid dislike of MAE. I used MAE for some reasonably-sized programs (a C-64 graphics package), and found it to be more than adequate. Its major drawback is in fact that it sits in RAM, thus limiting resident program space. I take notable exception with several of your charges: 1. I don't know what kind of problems you had using macros, but I have never experienced any difficulties whatsoever with them. It sounds like you were trying to do something with macros that would have more rationally done in some other manner. 2. There ARE operators for low and high byte. Try reading the manual. 3. The manual is not copious with examples, but it contains all the information that is needed. I was going at full clip within two days after getting MAE. 4. You imply that MAE does not support include files. It in fact does, and it more than comfortably handled a densely-commented program which assembled to about 3K. Now, I am not going to back MAE unconditionally. It has funny pseudo-ops and the default colors are bad. But the editor is easy to use and supports bidirectional scrolling. The included monitor is extremely powerful. It even comes with a simple text formatter, and it only cost my company $69. It appears that you never really tried to become accustomed to MAE, because you wouldn't be complaining so fiercely now if you had. Perhaps Merlin-64 has its virtues, but do not rule out alternatives with haphazard claims. Mark Papamarcos