Xref: utzoo comp.windows.x:26211 comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc:1167 Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!know!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!brutus.cs.uiuc.edu!apple!amdahl!juts!benny From: benny@vlss.amdahl.com (Benny Schnaider) Newsgroups: comp.windows.x,comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc Subject: Re: X windows on PCs - Who has the best ?? Message-ID: Date: 27 Aug 90 17:25:43 GMT References: <520@lafayet.UUCP> Sender: netnews@ccc.amdahl.com Distribution: na Organization: Amdahl Corp., Sunnyvale CA Lines: 59 In-reply-to: rob@lafayet.UUCP's message of 15 Aug 90 13:46:52 GMT To: Rob Freyder Core Laboratories From: Len Jacobson, Amdahl Corporation (len@vlss.amdahl.com) I have been using XVision from VisionWare, Ltd., on a 286, using FTP's PC/TCP communications software via a 3COM 3C503 Ethernet board. For one that does not need to work "heavily" within the X environment, I find it an excellent solution. It requires Microsoft Windows (I am using 3.0). That means that I have my normal PC windows and I have "X" windows. Actually, XVision works in either "multi-window" or "single-window" mode. The "multi" means that each X client has its own Microsoft window and that Microsoft Windows handles much of the windowing -- more efficient that way. The "single" approach means there is one X window, inside of which you have as many X clients as you wish (see caveat later). I actually prefer working this way, as it is closer to the real X feel. Nonetheless, you should realize that the more efficient way is "multi" windowing. Since the PC is color, the X, naturally, provides color. With one exception, I have not had any problem with the color. It has only been an asset. The one exception is FrameMaker -- just yesterday I tried for the first time to use it and it complained that the colors weren't setup correctly. I haven't tried to resolve this yet, but I assume it will be no problem. So far as running on a 286, it is slow in setting up the environment. It takes about 60 sections before I see my first X window. On a 386, I assume it would be much faster. Until I get all my windows set up just the way I like takes about 1 1/2 minutes more. Once set up, I have two mailbox windows, one to a Sun workstation and one to a mainframe, I have a "manual browser" from another mainframe, I have a "workload" figure from a Sun, and I have four working windows, two on Suns and two on mainframes, these last two using "tn3270" to give me true 3270 compatibility. And that works nicely, too. Again, but for setup, I think the response is fine. I have good control of moving windows around, resizing them, iconizing them, opening them up, etc. By the way, my screen is a MultiSync 3D, with a video adapter from Video Seven, 512K video RAM. This provides 1024x768 resolution. It means I can devote one half of my screen to PC and one half to X, and the X side is wide enough to give me a full 80x24 character screen. The size of the lettering is small, but I can live with it. I think a better solution, however, would be to have a 16" or even 19" monitor. I'm looking into that now. The only big problem that I have is that XVision has a limit, unfortunately, of only ten X clients. For a serious user, that is a very bad limitation. Additionally, a bug in the system causes it to die a most unglorious death when you try to create the eleventh client. As my mother would say, "You shouldn't know from such things." PC/TCP from FTP, however, allows you to set a limit on the number of TCP/IP connections, and this precludes my ever asking for the eleventh client. Visionware is aware of the bug and is coming out with a correction. They also recognize that ten clients is a very low number. They aren't saying when they'll have a version allowing more than ten. That's about it. In summary, it's a very good solution for one who has strong ties to the PC world, but needs a "window" (no pun intended) to the X world.