Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!att!rutgers!usc!wuarchive!uunet!adiron!tro
From: tro@adiron.UUCP (Tom Olin)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.news
Subject: Re: NeWS down-played in OW 2.0
Message-ID: <457@adiron.UUCP>
Date: 4 Sep 90 20:24:55 GMT
References: <11722@hoptoad.uucp> <1990Aug21.154152.27532@odin.corp.sgi.com> <4845@shemesh.GBA.NYU.EDU>
Organization: PAR Technology, New Hartford, NY
Lines: 64

I'm afraid my first article did not clearly make my points.  Let me
try one more time.

In article <4845@shemesh.GBA.NYU.EDU>, ittai@shemesh.GBA.NYU.EDU (Ittai Hershman) writes:
>                              The users, for whatever reason, like
> Motif...

See point 2 below.

>                      It seems simple: generate an XView and tNt which
> use Motif looking graphics.  To the extent there is commonality, adopt
> the Motif styleguide, and where there is none, innovate.  For example,
> a graphic designer can easily design a motif-looking pushpin.

There is more to OPEN LOOK's pushpin than just its appearance.  It
plays a very specific role in OL's look-and-feel.  As far as I know,
that specific role is not defined in Motif.  And I believe this whole
Motif vs. OPEN LOOK debate is primarily over look-and-feel, isn't it?

> Sun can forfeit a small skirmish and win the war.  Once the users
> are happy, Sun can continue on its way to make NeWS or son-of-NeWS
> the successor to X11.  And in the interim, make XView the toolkit
> of choice.

See point 3 below.

> Is it really worth fighting to the death about graphical design?
> Are roundtangles worth that much!  C'mon, lets get on with it...

See point 3 below.

> 
> -Ittai

A quick recap of the points I was trying to make:

1.  I question the wisdom of deciding on standards before they have
been implemented and/or fully tested.  And I question the durability
of standards and the importance with which people seem to view them.
Standards do get replaced (e.g., CORE graphics, GKS, etc.).  While I
support the proper development of standards, I often feel that too
many people have gone overboard (i.e., off the deep end) on the idea.

2.  I believe most users in the Motif camp have chosen Motif, not
because they particularly like it, but because they see it as the safe
business choice.  There is a difference.

3.  If, as you and others claim, the world has decided on Motif, then
it shouldn't matter whether Sun gives up on OPEN LOOK or not.  So why
is everybody still wringing their hands and begging Sun to give up the
fight?  Maybe the world hasn't really decided?

Personally, I can live with X11 instead of NeWS, and I can live with
Motif instead of OPEN LOOK.  In both cases, the job gets done.  But I
don't have to like the way some people make their decisions.

I'll stop kicking this horse now.  My foot hurts.
-- 
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