vxHPC

High-quality Terminal Emulation

By Don Hergert

72235.32@compuserve.com

I'm a heavy communications user and my primary use for Windows CE is communication related. Windows CE 1.0 and its incomplete terminal emulation capabilities almost pushed me into giving up on it altogether. Windows CE 2.0 has enticed me back with great enthusiasm. Not because the Terminal program has improved ­ it hasn't. But because high-quality emulation packages from independent software developers have begun to hit the market.

The one that I'm using is vxHPC from Cambridge Computing Corp. It's the only one that is Windows CE 2.0 compatible at the time of the writing of this article. It lets you connect your H/PC to BBS's, Digital, Unix, Wang and Internet host systems. vxHPC supports IrDA, serial port, modem, and TCP/IP connections and all the normal Windows CE dialing functions, plus it provides login scripting (unfortunately not for Remote Networking connections), printing, a print log mode, print capture, text capture, copy, paste, multi-protocolled upload and download, a nice variety of fonts, a very well done group of emulations, and the ability to connect using a Remote Networking connection in a Telnet mode (although be aware that this mode of connecting to a system like CSi over the Internet is unsecured).

vxHPC is a well done, feature rich, and reliable product. In my mind it's what Windows CE's native Terminal program should have been. It works nicely with CSi's remaining text-based forum and information services, as well as with CSi's "old-mail" system.

About the Author:

Don Hergert lives with his family in Southern California and is a senior programmer analyst at Loma Linda University Medical Center. His specialty area is data communications and enterprise interface engine technologies in the health care setting. He has been a user of handheld computers since 1980.