Message-ID: <775@ecsvax.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 27-Feb-85 10:19:14 EST
Article-I.D.: ecsvax.775
Posted: Wed Feb 27 10:19:14 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 2-Mar-85 03:23:13 EST
Organization: NC Educational Computing Service
Lines: 11


    Does anyone have any hands-on experience with the EVEREX GRAPHICS
EDGE card and/or PARADISE MODULAR GRAPHICS card??  A recent review in
PC MAGAZINE was particularly high on the EVEREX card.  I was also 
wondering about compatiblity with WORDSTAR (old), dBASE II or III,
FRAMEWORK, 1-2-3 and SYMPHONY.  Also, how about compatibility with
LATTICE C and/or TURBO PASCAL graphics routines?
    Is the EVEREX really IBM/HERCULES monochrome compatible *and* 
IBM/PLATRONICS color compatible?? 
                                     Thanks in advance,
                                        Paul M. Hudy 

Message-ID: <780@ecsvax.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 28-Feb-85 09:34:44 EST
Article-I.D.: ecsvax.780
Posted: Thu Feb 28 09:34:44 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 3-Mar-85 05:34:48 EST
References: <775@ecsvax.UUCP>
Organization: Duke U Comp Ctr
Lines: 36

<>
We at Duke have had some experience with the Paradise card.  This
graphics card drives the IBM Monochrome Display with text at roughly
the same resolution as the IBM Monochrome Display Adapter, but shows
graphics at the lower resolution of the color/graphics display.  Screen
memory is at B8000 hex, the same as IBM's color graphics location.  The
card is therefore compatible with normal graphics software, not with
things intended for the higher-resolution Hercules card.

Not having technical documentation, I can only guess that the dual
display modes are accomplished by playing games with the vertical sync
signal.  That theory is consistent with the behavior we have seen:  some
monochrome displays have a real problem displaying a steady graphics
image.  Some even emit hissing sounds in graphics mode.  Whether this
can cause long-term damage to the monitor is something I don't know.
Perhaps someone more technically competent could offer a suggestion.

In any event, reactions to the card have varied.  Some users have been
and remain enthusiastic, having no difficulties whatsoever.  Others
have not been as happy, and one in particular went so far as to rip the
card from his machine and throw it into the trashcan in the presence of
one of the Computation Center's service personnel.

I think the jury is still out on the Paradise card, but I wanted to let
your know our experiences.  Incidentally, we have heard no complaints
(to my knowledge) on the Hercules or AST Monograph cards.  However,
those cards adhere to the Hercules graphics "standard" instead of IBM's,
and less software is available for them.  (Of course, Lotus 1-2-3,
Ashton-Tate Framework, and many other software packages DO work.)

Hope this is of some help.
-- 
D Gary Grady
Duke U Comp Center, Durham, NC  27706
(919) 684-3695
USENET:  {seismo,decvax,ihnp4,akgua,etc.}!mcnc!ecsvax!dgary

Message-ID: <2500@tekig.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 3-Mar-85 14:08:04 EST
Article-I.D.: tekig.2500
Posted: Sun Mar  3 14:08:04 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 6-Mar-85 03:50:36 EST
References: <775@ecsvax.UUCP>
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Lines: 22

 >      Does anyone have any hands-on experience with the EVEREX GRAPHICS
 >  EDGE card and/or PARADISE MODULAR GRAPHICS card??  A recent review in
 >  PC MAGAZINE was particularly high on the EVEREX card.  I was also 
 >  wondering about compatiblity with WORDSTAR (old), dBASE II or III,
 >  FRAMEWORK, 1-2-3 and SYMPHONY.  Also, how about compatibility with
 >  LATTICE C and/or TURBO PASCAL graphics routines?
 >      Is the EVEREX really IBM/HERCULES monochrome compatible *and* 
 >  IBM/PLATRONICS color compatible?? 

We are using the Everex Graphics Edge in severa PCs at work.  The article
in PC Magazine was accurate and complete.  I have used the card with 
Framework in Hercules mode with excellent results.  It also displays grey
scale on a composite monochrome monitor when driven with IBM color 
software.  It is compatible with Plantronics but I haven't tested that
mode.  The only problem I have observed is that you must make a tradeoff
between flicker and scrolling speed using jumper options.  I would like
to have faster memory access so I could get fast scrolling with no
flicker.  For the money, though it is an attractive solution to the
problem of multiple graphics protocols.

Jim Larsen