Xref: utzoo alt.msdos.programmer:672 comp.org.ieee:187 Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!utstat!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uwm.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!samsung!usc!apple!vsi1!octopus!pete From: pete@Octopus.COM (Pete Holzmann) Newsgroups: alt.msdos.programmer,comp.org.ieee Subject: Re: Need Info: GIS Packages Summary: Watch Strategic Mapping (formerly SLP, makers of Atlas*...) Message-ID: <1989Nov10.143256.25383@Octopus.COM> Date: 10 Nov 89 14:32:56 GMT References: Reply-To: pete@octopus.UUCP (Pete Holzmann) Organization: Octopus Enterprises, Cupertino CA Lines: 48 vy10+@andrew.cmu.edu (Vannevar Y. Yu) writes: >We are planning to implement a GIS application based on TIGER/line data >(and possibly dBASE file?) on a pc-386 platform for non-profit public >sector use, and would like any information, product or experience, >positive or negative, on available options and mapping packages. > >As of now, we are considering either the Compaq 386/25 or the >IBM PS/2 Model 80 as base hardware; we're looking into MapInfo and >GisPlus software packages. Being a non-profit endeavor, cost is one of the >key contraints, and any comments you may have will help us avoid >unanticipated problems. I have a few comments: (1) I'd strongly suggest you watch Strategic Mapping for an announcement soon. If you can wait a few months to purchase the GIS software, I think you'll find their new product to be much better than the rest (am I biased? Well, I *have* been working on it for a year now! :-)). They are extremely cooperative about good deals for educational/non-profit use as well. (2) TIGER files are big. No, they're ENORMOUS! Perhaps even more important than a few extra MHz in your CPU is: (a) A good, fast, hard disk system. At least 1:1 RLL; fast ESDI or SCSI preferred. (A nice new choice: Micropolis 1684-7 300MB 1/2ht 14ms SCSI at $1650 + Adaptec 1542A SCSI controller at $275 gets you 1.5MB/sec real throughput!)... (b) Get plenty of RAM; use it for EMS and a nice disk cache. (3) GisPlus looks to be a pretty good product. MapInfo is a LOT of talk and very little on the delivery end. Yes, they do a few things nicely, but in the long run, most people are disappointed, to put it mildly! [One example- they recently announced complete networking support. To them, this means that multiple users can *read* a GIS file simultaneously.] Pete (For mapping-related questions, you can reach me as slp!pete@octopus.com, for now) Peter Holzmann, Octopus Enterprises |(if you're a techie Christian & are 19611 La Mar Ct., Cupertino, CA 95014 |interested in helping w/ the Great UUCP: {hpda,pyramid}!octopus!pete |Commission, email dsa-contact@octopus) DSA office ans mach=408/996-7746;Work (SMI) voice=408/985-7400,FAX=408/985-0859 -- Peter Holzmann, Octopus Enterprises |(if you're a techie Christian & are 19611 La Mar Ct., Cupertino, CA 95014 |interested in helping w/ the Great UUCP: {hpda,pyramid}!octopus!pete |Commission, email dsa-contact@octopus) DSA office ans mach=408/996-7746;Work (SLP) voice=408/985-7400,FAX=408/985-0859