The following is testimony for BananaCom and BananaCom Custom gleaned from
a variety of sources.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

(from CompuServe IBMCOM forum)

#: 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.





    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 <G>.

>> 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.




#: 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. <G>

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.





===========================================================================
 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,

    Banancom Custom has significantly increased our new subscriber
    count. Many of the callers that would normally use the less than
    user friendly comm pgms that came with their modems now have a
    hassle-free way to call us. No settings, no configuration to
    confuse then, just fire up Banacom and the next thing they see is
    the logon prompt. I would estimate that Bananacom is responsible
    for $800-$1000 of new subscriptions each month, not a bad
    investment.




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 <dale.lloyd@father.com>
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.


