1.    Introduction


Terminal Emulation

The purpose of a terminal emulator is to connect your computer to another computer, either through a modem or a direct connection.  There are other cases where the connection might be going through something other than a modem, such as a PBX system in the work environment.  Terminal emulation software running on your Mac makes it act like a video display terminal, which basically displays incoming information on the screen and sends characters you type to the other computer.  In addition, most terminal emulators support file transfers, so you can send or receive files from the other computer with error recovery.

The most common uses of a terminal emulator are: 1) to connect to another device through a serial port to configure or test the device; 2) to connect to a mainframe or Unix system; 3) to connect to another Mac or PC to exchange files with a friend.


Shareware

Shareware is a means of distributing software that lets you evaluate the software before committing your money.  It also eliminates the middlemen, so you can get quality software and good prices.  Shareware is distributed primarily over the internet these days, but also by user groups, and from user to user.  When you get a shareware program, you have the opportunity to try it out for some period of time to see if it does what you need.  After trying it, you must either send the registration fee to the author or stop using the program.  In addition, once you register, you normally don’t have to pay for updates.  (This really depends on the shareware author; many don’t request additional fees for updates once you are registered.)  


Registration

After using ZTerm for 30 days, you must either register or delete any copies that you have.  Registration has the following benefits:  support of the development of quality Mac software, use of ZTerm without a guilty conscience, and support via email.  Registration only is $20 (US); Registration with Disk of current release is $30 (US).  All payments must be made in US funds. 

The best way to register is thru Kagi, with this link:

http://order.kagi.com/cgi-bin/store.cgi?storeID=P4D


Support
Internet:  dalverson@kagi.com

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank some of the people who have helped me with testing, bug reports and other helpful comments and suggestions: Verne Arase, Bill Branca, Rick Dieringer, Ron Duritsch, Rob Elliot, Bill Johnson, Gary Johnston, Les Jones, Eric Larson, Steve Levinthal, Dave Platt, Gary Shell, Stephan Somogyi, Steve Jasik, Tom Breakiron and many others.  To the Cincinnati AppleSiders User Group and the Programmers SIG.  The ZTerm icon was inspired by one that Kenroy Harrison sent to me.  To Global Village and Shiva for making equipment available to me for testing.  To Chuck Forsberg, for designing a top-notch transfer protocol in ZModem.  To my wife, for her understanding and patience.  To everyone else who has made useful comments and suggestions.  And a special thanks to those who have supported ZTerm development by registering.