The following is testimony for BananaCom gleaned from a variety of sources this summer. The first is from Zack Jones, an employee of DeltaComm, the company that produces Telix. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (from CompuServe IBMCOM forum) 15-Jun-94 07:23:07 Sb: #281883-Best comm software Fm: Zack Jones 73063,1525 To: Paul Wheaton 72707,207 >> Yer welcome! Of course, you could always give your professional opinion on ProComm vs. BananaCom. Or could you? :) Hmm, well, I haven't used ProComm for several years; however, when I did use BananaCom I was quite impressed with it. How's that . >> Hey Zack: How did you guys rate last year for com software? #2, I think, I don't happen to have that issue handy so I can't say for certain. >> Since BananaCom just came out in February, I think I'll be pretty lucky to even make the list. You never know. I wish you the best of luck with it. Take Care, Zack Jones #: 282500 S3/Comm Programs [C] 19-Jun-94 05:39:27 Sb: #281884-BananaCom 1.1d Fm: Mark Masterson 74107,3414 To: Paul Wheaton 72707,207 Paul; I'm a retailer. I run a fairly large computers/audio/video/well, you get the idea, I hope, store. As a new kind of customer service, we've recently set aside one of our phone lines, an AST 486, a 14.4 and a CD-ROM, installed Remote Access and Ac-Files and started a BBS. I do fairly significant business in computers (about 2.5 mil a year), and I am hoping to be able to use the service as a clincher for this segment of the market. Moreover, I'm personally convinced that the future of retailing, as in most industries, particularly service based ones, will inevitably move towards greater and greater use of on-line resources. Exactly what form that might take, I don't know, but I have decided I'd rather be lost out in front of the crowd than drifting along behind it. Anyway, the POINT is, we're a mass market retailer. We sell entry level computers to novices (I'm being kind here.). A LOT of our return business involves nothing more than operator errors. Ignorance, lack of education and plain foolishness plague us. With this in mind, I felt it was important to find a way to make the BBS service as simple and approachable as possible. At first we were planning to use Windows Terminal as a lowest common denominator, on the premise that everyone has it already. However, we decided that not only is Terminal ugly, it's confusing too. Steering users that way seemed more headache than it was worth. We realized we would probably need to find a way to offer some kind of free class to teach people to use Terminal. So I began to shop around for an alternative. After much lurking, listening and snooping, and a lot of downloads and experimentation, we've decided to go with Banana Comm. It's perfect for our needs. It's astonishlingly simple, very fast, and allows me the luxury of some ANSI graphics, something I thought Terminal would force me to forego. We edit the dialing directory, put in the number for our board, zip everything up in an EXE file and hand it out on a free floppy. So far the response has been positive; we have handed out about 100 copies (which I hope means about 100 checks coming your way soon, although I can't guarantee anything. Our check is on the way, by the way..). I really like your program, and for our needs, as a means to leverage those novice users on line, it's absolutely perfect. Just thought you'd like to know. #: 286785 S3/Comm Programs [C] 05-Aug-94 13:16:27 Sb: Bananacom-Simply Great! Fm: Armando de Peralta Jr. 73562,3144 To: [F] All Hello everyone: Quick story/tribute about Bananacom from a member in San Diego, CA. I've been in what seems like eternal pursuit of the easiest possible modem software to use. Nothing fiddly (sp?) - definitely nothing complicated - and something that can do simple file transfers for business and pleasure. Every time I thought I found the program I was looking for...I was wrong! Bitcom was too buggy; Procomm (non-Plus) was too powerful and time consuming (fiddly); and for all of Telix's simplicity, it was one of the most complicated "easy" shareware comm packages I'd ever had the misfortune to use. And then - as I was browsing through this forum - EUREKA!..... Believe me....ladies and gents of the jury... beginners who are only looking to do sensible, simple, "no-bells-and-whistles" file transfers - and even some online chatting - finally have an answer. Use BANANACOM. Repeat after me...B A N A N A C O M. It is *exactly* the program simpletons like myself crave. I'm nuts about it. So very clean. So simple....and so well supported! Had a small problem with the program at first. Called the telephone number that appeared in the information dialogue box and "WHAM-BINGO" I immediately connected with the program's shareware author, Paul. He troubleshot the problem with me. Expressed genuine interest in my progress with the program and went out of his way to help me solve a small TSR conflict in my laptop. He managed it with ease. Problem solved. And let me tell you...the program is simplicity itself. A gift from heaven no less...HATS OFF TO BANANACOM ! (I'm registering as soon as I can). A New *Eurphoric* Fan, Armando de Peralta Jr. #: 286976 S3/Comm Programs [C] 08-Aug-94 08:33:35 Sb: #286792-QModem best shareware? Fm: Robert Macomber 76130,303 To: Paul Wheaton 72707,207 Mr Wheaton: Last Saturday I downloaded several threads of messages from IBMCOM and among them saw several messages from you mentioning your Bananacom program. Since I have been having some problems lately with ProComm Plus 2.01 (probably due to downloading and applying the current patches - I must have done something wrong), I downloaded your program and tried it over the weekend. I called PSL's Shareware Registration Service this morning and registered it. Your program is excellent. It installed quickly with no problems, adjusted without complaint to a Hayes Accura 28.8 on IRQ5 instead of IRQ4 on COM3, and I found it downloading text from the Internet at twice the speed I had been getting before. Needless to say I am pleased and can recommend it to any others looking for a straightforward comm program. In my case I am using it primarily to connect to my Internet server, so I don't need all the bells and whistles you left out. Robert Macomber, Fort Myers, Florida; 08-Aug-94 at 11:31a EDT #: 288554 S3/Comm Programs [C] 26-Aug-94 15:27:29 Sb: #288548-Ancient Laptop Software Fm: Rick Radford 72673,2237 To: Teresa Anders 75122,1331 Teresa, I also have an old machine, perhaps not quite as old as yours as I'm using DOS 3.2. I do not have a hard drive - just dual 720k drives in an 8086 environment driving a CGA monitor. I do have an external 14.4 PPI modem hooked up which seems to work fine with this combo. When I upgraded from a 2400 bps modem to the 14.4, my old comm software would not work and I had to scratch around and find another. My needs are quite modest and I found two comm programs that worked well for me. One is Telix 3.22 and the other is BananaCom (BCOM). Telix is full featured and costs about $45 (I think). BCOM cost $20 or $25 and is not as complete, yet does pretty much what I need for BBSing, calling DUATs, etc. I use CIM v1.36 and ATO for CI$ing. Both the comm programs are shareware and well supported. I believe you will find them in IBMCOM, comm program library (I'm not sure of the library #). Both work well from a 720k floppy leaving the 2nd drive for up/down loads, etc. I tried several other comm programs (Commo, Qcom297, Panther, BBS120, Mycmm211) but could not get them to run successfully in my environment. I settled on BCOM for both cost and simplicity. Some of the other programs look like they would be excellent, but I couldn't figure out how to make them work for one reason or another. Regarding your garbled characters, I had a similar problem, too, and found that 8N1 was not correct for dialing in to CIS via a comm program (not CIM). I believe you need 7E1 (7 bits, Even parity, 1 stop bit) in order to connect properly -- that cleared up my problem. CIM v1.36 should work well for you on your laptop -- I believe if you GO order, you can d/l it if you don't already have it. --Rick #: 290159 S3/Comm Programs [C] 17-Sep-94 21:56:28 Sb: #290116-Problem with COMit Fm: Jim Hughes 73747,2554 To: Paul Wheaton 72707,207 Paul, I recommend B-com to all my friends that are just getting started with modems. Its simply amazing. It removes almost al the smoke and mirrors of modem strings by never getting the user involved. I think we are in violent agreement about BananaCom! Regards, JIm Hughes [Team OS/2] GCP 2.1[ME-NET BBS 603.432.0170] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The following are public messages on our support BBS =========================================================================== BBS: The Montana Banana BBS Date: 08-04-94 (00:16) Number: 4756 From: MAC HUGHES Refer#: 4203 To: PAUL WHEATON Recvd: YES Subj: Popularity Conf: (2) BCom --------------------------------------------------------------------------- PW>Not bad for such a new program, eh? Paul, Not bad at all. I think what you have created, here, is the Volkswagen Beetle of commware. It is beautiful in its simplicity and utility. I know there is probably some pressure on you to "improve" (i.e. add more stuff to) the program, but I hope you can hold out against those who would have you turn this into another race with Datastorm to produce the most confusing telecommunications program on the block. If you want to make a fatter program, please write a new one. Call it "Pumpkincom". Leave bcom as is, except perhaps to update the FTP (HSLink?) as needed. No need to worry about that, quite yet. One of the best things about bcom is that there is only one choice of FTP: The right choice. Keep up the good work. (But don't work on bcom, too much.) Mac =========================================================================== BBS: The Montana Banana BBS Date: 08-17-94 (11:30) Number: 4936 From: BOB COSS Refer#: 4203 To: PAUL WHEATON Recvd: YES Subj: Popularity Conf: (2) BCom --------------------------------------------------------------------------- PW>Not bad for such a new program, eh? Hi Paul, Not bad at all. I run a bbs here in Frederick, MD, and the comm package I tell everyone to use is BCOM. Most of my callers have never used a bbs or a communications program before. I use it occasionally to dial back into my system to check its operation. It runs great under OS/2 2.1. I thought I would just stop by and say hello, and let you know I was once of those compuserve users who downloaded it. I will continue to recommend it to my users. At this point, I am not ready to register it because I don't have much money for registrations. (I don't feel to bad because I only use it occasionally, and I recommend it to everyone.) Now all I need is a windows version so that I can tell everyone the same thing who wants a native version. Thanks very much for your fine effort! Bob Coss The Berean BBS Frederick, MD (301)620-1401 =========================================================================== BBS: The Montana Banana BBS Date: 05-21-94 (06:48) Number: 3770 From: BILL SPALDING Refer#: NONE To: ** ALL ** Recvd: NO Subj: This is really a great li Conf: (8) Hello --------------------------------------------------------------------------- This com program is really great. Small, tight, efficient. I'm using Procom but I don't need all the extras it has--I only call BBS and exchange files, so all the "bells & whistles" are in the way. My registration fee is in the mail. TTYL BillS--West Palm Beach, FL =========================================================================== BBS: The Montana Banana BBS Date: 06-02-94 (00:59) Number: 3877 From: RAY KAPPLER Refer#: NONE To: SYSOP Recvd: NO Subj: bcomm11 v1.1 & your BBs & Conf: (8) Hello --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bcom11 is excellent! will register by mail & feature on my BBS. Your BBS works pretty good. I was impressed by bcom11 v1.1a & its' default operation, particularly the init string. I'm using my settings for Infotel 14.4 k & works fine! LIST90H.ZIP is available & I'll up load it & others when I become a little more familiar w/bananacom. ÿ =========================================================================== BBS: The Montana Banana BBS Date: 07-11-94 (00:08) Number: 4456 From: MAC HUGHES Refer#: NONE To: ** ALL ** Recvd: NO Subj: Bcom Conf: (8) Hello --------------------------------------------------------------------------- David, I just want to tell you that I think Bcom is terriffic. I am using the demo to contact you right now. I was curious about your board. I don't use Bcom regularly, myself, but I have placed it in the file lib of my BBS, The Back Row, in Minneapolis. I recommend it over Procomm or anything else for beginners. If someone logs in with Windows term, I send them straight over to the file library for Bananacom. I encourage them to register it, I hope they are doing it. I thought it would be a nice touch to contact your BBS with Bcom. I hope it is Okay to post it, the docs said it was. Well, I don't want to burn your phone line too long, just stopped in to say, hi. =========================================================================== BBS: The Montana Banana BBS Date: 08-06-94 (08:35) Number: 4803 From: RALPH CLENDENIN Refer#: NONE To: SYSOP Recvd: NO Subj: Just a note to the Sysop Conf: (8) Hello --------------------------------------------------------------------------- I have tryed an awful lot of comm pgm's and this is the first time use on this one and I really like it so far. Most likely will register it after a breakin. thank you =========================================================================== BBS: The Montana Banana BBS Date: 08-18-94 (11:55) Number: 4962 From: JAMIE UREN Refer#: NONE To: SYSOP Recvd: NO Subj: Banana com Conf: (8) Hello --------------------------------------------------------------------------- hello.. my name is Jamie Uren.. calling from london ont canada.. the only reason I'm calling long distance is cuz... I REALLY LIKE BANANA COM!! i just wanted to tell the person that made it... over here.. that it is the easiest and most convinientient software I have ever used for my 14.4 U.S. rbotics data/fax modem!!.. thanks for making it.. I LUV IT!! =========================================================================== BBS: The Montana Banana BBS Date: 08-18-94 (20:23) Number: 4971 From: STEVE MOYER Refer#: NONE To: SYSOP Recvd: NO Subj: Disk Mailed to User Group Conf: (8) Hello --------------------------------------------------------------------------- I just received the disk you mailed to our user group. I want to thank you for sending us this disk. We will be glad to include it in our file library and we will make it available to members and guests. I will give you a call about your kickback program for our group. I don't think we'll get a big rush of registrations (our group is small, less than 30 at this point,) but we'll sure do what we can. I have to admit, I've never seen such a simple, handy and useful comm program. I am a registered user of LYNC (formerly simterm) which I like because of the small size and ease of use. I may just have to register this one for the same reasons. I sure intend to give a disk to anyone who says they are having a hard time getting online! Steve =========================================================================== BBS: The Montana Banana BBS Date: 08-24-94 (14:50) Number: 5044 From: MICHAEL JONES Refer#: NONE To: SYSOP Recvd: NO Subj: Hi there Conf: (8) Hello --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi, I picked up BCOM from CompuServe several weeks ago... it's a very nice program for a beginner! I intend to keep it around in case someone needs something simple to use. Just wanted to stop by to check out a couple of files mentioned in the docs. Thanks! -MJ (72163,3341) =========================================================================== BBS: The Montana Banana BBS Date: 09-21-94 (21:45) Number: 5455 From: MARK LANIER Refer#: NONE To: PAUL WHEATON Recvd: YES Subj: Great terminal program/an Conf: (8) Hello --------------------------------------------------------------------------- I just wanted to tell you that i just in the last couple of days ran across BananaCom and i feel that it is the cleanest, most well-conceived terminal program i have utilized. And i have used many in the quest for one which will just get the job done. So many are loaded down with poor programming and features which are more hinderance than help. By the way, what bbs software are you running? I have not run into this interface before. Around here all the bbs sysops use Wildcat! like there's a law nothing else is allowed. Your surname also caught my eye in the doc file. Are you by any chance related to Wil Wheaton from Star Trek: The Next Generation? You've got a great package here!! Hope to chat or correspond with you some day. Mark Lanier - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (sent via internet mail) From: ben.cunningham@nashville.com To: banana@montana.com Subject: TNE Paul, I am extremely pleased with Banacom Custom for The Nashville Exchange. We can give it to new callers and know they will be on-line quickly and easily without all the questions about parity, transfer protocols, and terminal emulation. These are the kind of problems that turn off so many potential BBS callers. Keep up the good work. From: BLOOMUNIT@delphi.com To: pwheaton@montana.com Subject: BananaCom I work with homeschool families; many of them are first-time computer users. BananaCom is fantastic for this purpose. Its simplicity is great for building confidence in a new user, and its extra features, such as ANSI music reception and "Doorway" mode, make it perfect for teaching and encouraging modem use. It can be readily learned and enjoyed by anyone; with its command-line dialing feature, even a 5-year-old can go modeming (and we do have them on Bloomunit BBS for Homeschool Families!). BananaCom has my highest recommendation. From: Dale Lloyd To: banana@montana.com Subject: bananacom We at Father & Son recognized that within our local calling area there were hundreds if not thousands of computer user/owners who had a computer with a modem but had never it. Our goal was to get these people on line. Shortly thereafter we received a copy of BANANACOM! and were amazed at how easy it was to use. We made up a few copies and sent two of them to a local newspaper columnist who writes a weekly column om BBS's and the online world. The following week the newspaper had a column about our BBS, BANANACOM!, and where anyone who was interested in could get a copy. Over 200 copies were given away the first week and a large number of those signed onto the BBS. We are still getting requests for the program and are seeing the results as our caller base increases daily. Dale Lloyd / SYSOP Father and Son Information Service 2802 MacArthur Road Whitehall, PA 18052 Voice 610-439-0117 Modem 610-439-1509 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (via BBS e-mail) Just got BananaCom yesterday. I love it! I have to support lots of novice users trying to access our BBS (vertical market software support) and it beats the pants off the junk that comes bundled with most modems. I literally got it configured in 15 seconds. I've posted it on our BBS, and I've encouraged our users to D/L and register it, pronto! I'm very impressed. Look for my registration soon. Rick Gerlach Outstanding word on Banana Com. I have been telecomputing for twelve years. I am a registered QmodemPRO User. I have tried 'em all. NO OTHER telecommunications product has been easier to set up and run! I will keep in touch - and upload BCOM.ZIP everywhere I go. Clint Bradford Dear Mr. Wheaton, I just wanted to write you a note and let you know what a tremendous response we had to the BananaCom Custom terminal program your firm made for Travel Online. More than 500 new users have requested the disks in the past four weeks. We estimate usage on our system is nearly three fold what it would be without your dialing program. We're happy with BananaCom Custom for five major reasons: 1) IMAGE BUILDER. Users are really impressed that we have a tailor made program for dialing in just like the big modem services such as Prodigy and America Online. 2) ATTRACTS NEW USERS. One of the major problems for us was finding a way to attract people who had never before dialed into a BBS. That's what made BananaCom Custom so perfect for us. We now tell computer novices that we will send them a disk in the mail which will dial up trouble free. All they need to do is put the disk in their floppy drive, type the command GO and they're on-line in a matter of seconds. 3) CLEAN CONNECTIONS. When people connect to our BBS using BananaCom, we know they are using a program that is properly configured. The connections are clean, data transmissions are error free and that means they call more often and stay on longer. 4) EASY TECH SUPPORT. When people call with a connection problem, we know exactly how to troubleshoot it if they are using BananaCom, because the possible conflicts are so few. If they are not using BananaCom, we offer to send them the disk for a nominal charge. That makes them thrilled with both our customer service and the prospect of getting a custom modem disk in the mail. 5) WE LOVE THAT GUY HOLDING THE BANANA! Byron Lutz International Features 407-582-8320 Travel Online 407-582-0425 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (notes that were included with registrations) Excellent - especially for novice. Will feature on BBS --- Ray Kappler Dear Paul, That BananaCom 11 is a nifty little program. Here is my $20 for registration and upgrade. I learned of your BCOM on The Silver Streak BBS (410) 683-1586. The Sysop (Brad Blaise) has it listed prominently. Please send me info on more shareware that you wrote or endorse. Thanks. --- Jim Goffredi I was pleased with the shareware version because of its simplicity of operation and have been able to transfer files with a friend at faster speeds than we have been able to obtain with other communication programs. We both have 28.8 modems and enjoy sharing shareware files with each other. --- Dale Aldridge - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (appearing in "The Morning Call" newspaper of Allentown, PA, Tuesday, September 6, 1994 - by Tim Blangger) A while back, Dale Lloyd, the system operator, or sysop, for Father & Son BBS, 610-439-1509, one of the area's better commercial boards, was lamenting about all the unused modems floating around out there. To Lloyd, it seemed wasteful that these modems were not being used. Indeed, it is difficult to buy a new computer today that doesn't include a modem. Their wide availability doesn't make them any easier to use, however. At the time, Lloyd said he was talking with a shareware programmer who was working on a new, simple-to-use, simple-to-install communications program that is designed for all those computer-disabled folks who feel helpless in front of a keyboard. Well, just last week, a package from Lloyd arrived at my desk, and it contained two copies (a 3 1/2 and a 5 1/4 inch disk) of BananaCom!, a shareware program developed by Paul Wheaton of Missoula, Mont. The program needs DOS to work. It won't work in "Windows," but that is just as well. I've found communications programs work better in DOS, anyway. Best of all, BananaCom! doesn't need a hard disk to work, which will be good news to owners of the older computers. You can still load the program onto your computer's hard disk - I'd recommend you do that - but it isn't necessary. The best news of all is that Lloyd has 500 of these programs, on both sizes of disks, and is willing to give them away, free, to anyone who has an interest. You can get the disks by dropping by the Micro Cottage, 2802 MacArthur Road, Whitehall Township. The computer store is also the home of Lloyd's BBS. Lloyd is also willing to give multiple copies of the programs to any other business, so they can distribute them, too. We live in a cynical age, and you could say, "Sure, he wants us to subscribe to his BBS service," which is true, to a point. Lloyd's board is one of the two listings on the telephone directory that is a part of the program. Users can add as many other numbers as they would like, however, and aren't required to call his board. But, my sense is that Lloyd is more interested in getting people online. "If we can make getting online as simple as possible, more people will take the plunge into the online community." Lloyd said in a letter that accompanied the disks. The program comes with easy-to-follow installation instructions. I tried it on the machines here at work, and I thought it was a fine program. It is very straightforward, and it has an extensive "help" directory built into the program. The program also "finds" the modem for the user - assuming the modem is turned on and hooked up properly. Most of the expensive communications programs I'm familiar with don't do this. You have to tell most programs exactly where to find the modem. If you like the program, you can send $20 to Wheaton to register the software, and there are instructions with the program that tell you how to do it. The free disk is a usable program; registering it will get you a few more extras. That's the shareware idea: distribute the program and count on a few honest souls to pay up. But, $20 for a communications program is pretty cheap, especially one that works as well as BananaCom! does. More than likely, BananaCom! won't be the program you'll use once you get more accustomed to bulletin boards and the online community, but it is a great place to start.