Date   : Fri, 23 May 1986 12:12:49 EDT
From   : Dave Towson (info-cpm-request) <cpmlist@AMSAA.ARPA>
Subject: Request for beta-testers:

Fellow CP/Mers - In keeping with the periodically announced info-cpm policy
concerning posting of commercial new product announcements (copy available
upon request to info-cpm-request@amsaa.arpa), the following message is
considered to meet the stated requirements, and is therefore forwarded to the
list.  Please address any inquiries for additional information DIRECTLY to:

               Bridger Mitchell <bridger@rand-unix.arpa>

and NOT to info-cpm.  And thank you, Bridger, for your cooperation.


Dave Towson <info-cpm-request@amsaa.arpa>
info-cpm list maintainer


Date: Thu, 22 May 86 17:13:10 PDT
From: bridger@rand-unix.ARPA
Subj:   Testers needed for Backgrounder


Plu*Perfect Systems is completing development of a major
system-extension package for CP/M 2.2 Z80 systems.  It provides
window-like functionality and multiple (non-concurrent) task
operation.  We are ready for wider testing, and thought you
might be interested in helping.  Here's a brief summary:


                        The BACKGROUNDER (v. 2)

MAJOR FEATURES

 - TASK SWITCHING.  Runs 2 applications programs.  Each can be suspended
        to switch to / resume the other.
 - BACKGROUND COMMANDS. Runs built-in commands from within running tasks.
 - BACKGROUND PRINTING. Unspool to printer from a queue of files; spool
        list device output to file.
 - EXTENSIBLE COMMANDS. Add customized commands to command processor.
 - INTERTASK DATA TRANSFER. Cut/paste between tasks.  Background Notepad.
        Screen dump to printer/file.
 - KEYBOARD ENHANCEMENT. Add key definitions to numeric or main keyboard.
        Keystroke recording.  Auto and manual definition loading.
 - ZCPR3 COMPATIBILITY. Supports Z3 external environment buffers.

REQUIREMENTS

 - Z80 or equivalent
 - Standard CP/M 2.2 BDOS or ZRDOS 1.1 or 1.2
 - About 4.5K resident memory (2K of which replaces CCP/ZCPRx).  Most ZCPR3
        systems can relcaim 2K of RCP by using new extensible Overlay Command
        Processor.
 - 100K swap file space (~40K without task swapping)
 - Screen dump, redraw, notepad, cut/paste requires terminal with
        transmit-screen feature or memory-mapped video.

PERFORMANCE

 - ~1 sec. to swap full TPA with ramdisk, 2-4 sec with harddisk,
        10-30 with floppy.
 - 0.2 - 2 sec to redraw screen (terminals limited by baud rate)

COMPATIBILITY

 - Requires that the BIOS adhere to CP/M 2.2 standards
 - Compatible with applications that adhere to 2.2 standards.
 - Some ZCPR3 programs violate standards and can be modified to conform
   (e.g. ZEX).

CURRENT STATUS

 - Well tested on Kaypro '83 and '84 systems with ram, hard and floppy
        drives
 - Limited testing on Ampro Littleboard, SB180, S100 with ram and floppy
        drives
 - Screen drivers completed for Kaypro '83, Kaypro '84, Heath/Zenith
       19/89/90

WHAT'S NEEDED

 - Screen drivers for other popular terminals/computers.  This requires
   advanced z80 assembly-language programming and testing.  About 1K
   of new code must be written, based on current prototypes.
 - Beta testing on additional hardware and applications software.

                -               -               -

If you're interested in assisting and willing to test and contribute
a screen driver, send me a summary of your system(s), including
terminal transmit character/region/screen capability, and disk
drive hardware.

--bridger mitchell