Blackpool software house Datavision Ltd is moving in on the beleaguered Systime user base with an upgraded version of its Universe Basic that emulates Systime’s proprietary file handling system. Universe Basic from Datavision and Systime’s Trans-Basic, RSTS to Unix, Basic-Plus translators are both aimed at the DEC PDP-11 market. Datavision says the new version will liberate Systime users, and that the Systime translator, while it also incorporates the proprietary file handling system, still restricts users to Systime Unix hardware. In response to a specific request from a customer Datavision has enhanced its Universe Basic product to emulate the Access file handling system. Wasp Computers of London has taken the product and Datavision hopes to make a killing in the rest of the 2,000-strong base of users of old Systime machines.
