★ APPLICATIONS ★ COMMUNICATION/TELEMATIQUE ★ Prestel Link an inexpensive success ★ |
| Cirkit - Prestel Link | Cirkit - Prestel Link 2 | Modem - Cirkit - Prestel Link | Prestel |
Some months ago now we had the first Cirkit Prestel Link hardware and program in for review and I was rather enthusiastic to say the least. For an unprecedented bargain price of £29.99 you could buy an RS232 link and a Protek acoustic modem plus software ready to run Prestel etc, on your Amstrad. The price has gone up now to somewhere around thirty five pounds, but it was and still is a remarkable opportunity for people to test out the world of Prestel and micro-communications for the first time without risking a fortune on expensive equipment. I still don't know of an equivalent package available for less than about ninety pounds and for many people (those without trimphones) Prestel Link may prove to be all that is needed. However, it has to be accepted that the software comprised probably the bare minimum necessary and Cirkit have now brought out an upgrade for those who have come to terms with their phone bills and want to get more from their Prestel subscription. Xmodem file transfer is now possible, allowing you to send and receive files other than just Ascii - a very popular standard with CP/M comms programs. All external disc commands are aso supported and you can display or print Ascii files before sending them. As a final touch keys can be defined to do things such as take you straight to your favourite Prestel page. Other small touches are dotted around, eg a toggle to improve colours for green screen users. Tony Kendle, Popular Computing Weekly
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