[rescue] DEC terminals, was Re: Anyone build this kit?

[Dave McGuire]

On 10/1/21 4:47 PM, Joshua D. Boyd wrote:
>>   I think Lionel is talking about the VT525.  They are crap, but better than
>> nothing.  The VT420 was, IMO, their last good terminal.
> 
> Was the VT420 better than the VT340? I thought the VT525 was supposed to have
> the features of the VT340.while adding the ability to use an LCD and connect
> to 4 machines. It is sad to hear it was bad as I had been wanting one.

   The VT420 is quite different from the VT340.  The VT340 is older, 
larger, heavier, and is a color graphics terminal.  Not exactly an 
apples:apples comparison.

   The VT525's ability to use a VGA monitor and a PS/2 keyboard is 
certainly handy, but it's still a pretty crappy terminal.  Very cheap 
construction, poor video quality, etc.  It's a completely different 
design from the VT340.

   I find the VT420 to be an excellent terminal.  There's definitely 
evidence of cheaper manufacturing than in its predecessor, the VT320, 
particularly in the power switch.  But it's got it where it counts; 
great video quality, fast, sensible configuration menus...all the things 
we expect from a DEC terminal.

   The VT525 looked great to me in the literature too, so I bought one, 
brand new, many years ago.  I had it for less than a week before I put 
it back in its box and sold it.

              -Dave

-- 
Dave McGuire, AK4HZ
New Kensington, PA