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From: philr@knecht.Sun.COM (Phil Robar)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.misc
Subject: Re: Open Windows 2.0 released (Sun press release)
Message-ID: <140601@sun.Eng.Sun.COM>
Date: 14 Aug 90 03:12:07 GMT
References: <11722@hoptoad.uucp> <1990Aug2.025858.14871@brolga.cc.uq.oz.au> <3861@husc6.harvard.edu>
Sender: news@sun.Eng.Sun.COM
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bochner@lange.harvard.EDU (Harry Bochner) writes:

>... but I'm rather suspicious about the robustness of XView, on the following
>basis. Sun has put a lot of work into their Desk Suite programs, SunWrite,
>SunDraw, etc. So far these programs are available _only_ in SunView versions.
>The fact that they haven't released X versions seems to mean that:

>a) they feel there is some marketing advantage to having only SunView versions
>   (since it means that users have to be on Suns, as opposed to X-terminals,
>   for instance). This would contradict the stated strategy of supporting X.
>        or
>b) converting from SunView to X is trickier than they'd like us to think, even
>   using XView.
>        or
>c) XView itself just doesn't work very well yet.

>This is just speculation: anyone have any information?

>Harry Bochner
>bochner@endor.harvard.edu

I can see why you might have gotten this impression; however, lack of XView "robustness" is not the reason that X versions of Paint, Write, and Draw have not been released.  Sun{Paint, Write, and Draw} were co-developed by Island Graphics and Sun and the first version was released under the Sun label.  Paint, Write, and Draw are now sold directly by Island Graphics.  They may be reached at 800-255-4499 or 415-491-1000.

As for your other speculations:

a)  X11/NeWS is now "the" Sun window platform.  Checkout version 2; it is a major improvement over 1.0 and 1.0.1.

b)  We have received several complements on the script included with OpenWindows which does much of the conversion from SunView to XView.  This will not give you a complete OpenLook look and feel; but, it will get you onto X quickly.

c)  XView 2 is robust and is now the main user interface toolkit used within Sun.  Version 2 source is now available; see our today's announcement for details.  It is being ported to several non-Sun platforms.
Philip Robar
Sun Microsystems
Phone:	(415) 336-1423
philr@eng.sun.com	sun!knecht.eng!philr