The Connection CoProcessor - A Sophisticated Fax Board From Intel Corp. Copyright 1988 David W. Batterson Last August Intel Corporation's Personal Computer Enhancement Operation (PCEO) announced the first product to support the new DCA/Intel Communicating Applications Specification (CAS). The CAS standard provides the means of sending e-mail, binary files and faxes directly from word processing, database, spreadsheet or other software. It eliminates the need to load a communications program. CAS was introduced into the public domain so that software developers can add the interface to their programs. Major players in the software market are supporting CAS, including WordPerfect Corp., Microsoft Corp., Lotus Development Corp., Ashton-Tate Corp., Borland International Inc., Symantec Corp., Novell Inc., and several other companies. Software products--either new releases or add-in software--which will make use of CAS and the Connection CoProcessor include SideKick Plus, Lotus 1-2-3, WordPerfect 5.0 and Q&A. The idea is that while using such software, you use a command or menu selection to start communicating, just as you now select "print." The user doesn't have to exit the program to send or receive files, and can continue working immediately after the command is made. With CAS, you'll be able to transmit MCI MAIL messages, send a Lotus graph directly to another user's PC, zip off some faxes to any Group III fax machine, send a database file to a mainframe, and zap a memo via your local area network (LAN). At this stage of development, there is only one hardware product that can take advantage of CAS. That is Intel's own Connection CoProcessor board. This expansion board lets users exchange any file--text, graphics and binary data--with owners of a Connection CoProcessor or other fax board, at 9600 baud speed. Users can also send faxes to (and receive from) any Group III stand-alone fax machine. You can choose high or standard resolution for faxes. The board works with virtually all IBM compatibles, including the PS/2 Model 30. It has its own 10MHz 80188 microprocessor and 256K of memory. This allows it to work in the background, independently from the computer's microprocessor. It works with scanners that save graphics files in the .PCX (PC Paintbrush) file format. These include the HP ScanJet, Canon IX-12, MicroTek M5300A and Datacopy 220/230. It also supports all major dot matrix and laser printers. The Connection CoProcessor's software is easy to use, with well-designed menus. There's a phone book, containing up to 999 distribution lists with 999 names in each one. The activity Log keeps track of all sessions. There's the ability to make logos and other pictures with the included graphics editor, PC Paintbrush. It also lets you edit graphics files that you receive. In testing the Connection CoProcessor board, I found it much easier to use and set up than a typical modem. Intel provides top quality documentation, something found lacking with many modems and fax boards. There are three types of send modes: Fax, Transfer and Mail. You use Fax mode when you want to send a scanned document, text file, or created graphics image to a fax machine. To send a text, graphics or binary file to another PC with a fax board in it, you use Transfer mode. If you want to dash off a short note, you select Mail. A text editor lets you compose a message, and either send it immediately or save it for later sending. The Connection CoProcessor has features found in more expensive fax machines. You can "broadcast" the same file(s) to a large number of recipients. Transmissions can be delayed to any time and date you wish. You can include a custom made cover sheet with logo, or no cover. When you send without a cover, it will still indicate who it's coming from, and a time/date stamp. In the Status section you watch a call going through (or cancelled if it doesn't go through.) It reports the time sent, length of transmission (usually under one minute, depending upon the type of file), and any errors encountered. Transmissions that are aborted or otherwise fail to go through may be sent again using the Retry command. An option is a 2400 baud internal modem which pops into a handy "piggyback site" on the board. Both the Connection CoProcessor and onboard modem share the same phone line. The advantages of using a fax board over a fax machine are price and image quality. Most fax machines (except expensive high-end ones) use thermal printers. When you receive faxes directly to your PC, you can print them on a laser printer for higher quality. As a longtime modem user, I instantly took to the board like a duck to water. Suggested list price of the Connection CoProcessor is $995; the optional 2400B Piggyback Modem is $295. For more information on CAS or the Connection CoProcessor, contact Intel Corp. PCEO, Mail Stop C03-07, 5200 N.E. Elam Young Parkway, Hillsboro, OR 97124-6497; 800-538-3373; 503-629-7354; CompuServe: 70307,461; fax: 503-629-7227. # AUGUST 22, 1989 update: The Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) version of the Connection CoProcessor (for IBM PS/2 and compatibles) is now available. More than 50 applications have incorporated CAS support since August '88, which indicates strong acceptance of the CAS interface. Improvements have been made to the Connection CoProcessor's software menu and commands, in Version 1.1. David Batterson is an independent computer journalist/reviewer in Palm Springs, CA. Contact him via MCI MAIL: DBATTERSON.