Date   : Fri, 10 Feb 1989 08:50:08 EST
From   : Robert Bloom AMCICP-IM 3775 <rbloom@apg-emh1.apg.army.mil>
Subject: NorthStar DOS file help

Re: urgent request from aquada@athena.mit.edu

If the info on the disk(s) is in CP/M format, there is lots of 
people on the net and elsewhere that can help you with simple 
transfers.  (For example, I have a N* and PC sitting next to each 
other and FTP between them vai a commo line and MEX quite 
frequently.)
 
If the info on the disk(s) is really in NorthStar DOS (a N* 
proprietary disk format which was overcome by CP/M, giving you 
some idea of its age) things become much tougher.  Even if the 
transfer is done, the files may be useless as most N* DOS data 
files involve N* proprietary *programs*, standard ASCII may not 
be available.
 
In the latter, Randy Fischer of Fischer Computer systems may be 
the last surviving commercial N* DOS expert.  Phone is (707)965-
2414, Angwin CA - no connection with me other than a satisfied 
customer.
 
(Anybody know if N*, the company, still exists? - I'm still 
running a Horizon, but now under multi-processor TurboDOS.  Last 
I heard they were making 'Dimensions' - a multi-user MS-DOS 
machine with some variant of TurboDOS ...)
 
Bob Bloom