ABSTRACT
Geac’s early history as a non-manufacturing supplier of computer systems has made possible a relaxed attitude about the peripheral devices which it uses. Though the company now manufactures its own terminals, even the latest models rely heavily on other suppliers’ kit. Since the first edition of this book was published in 1987, there have been numerous inevitable changes in the Geac peripheral product line. At that time it was said that keeping track of UK developments was possible for the authors, but that inevitably there would be many developments worldwide about which the authors would be ignorant. In the intervening years all that has changed is that the present author no longer is able to say confidently that all UK hardware applications are now covered! The single biggest development is that whereas previously users were forced to buy proprietary equipment, usually from Geac, there is now a much greater opportunity to purchase standard equipment, often with considerable cost savings.
