Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!newstop!sun!argv
From: argv@turnpike.Eng.Sun.COM (Dan Heller)
Newsgroups: comp.mail.misc
Subject: Warning: flames on (was: Information on X.400 wanted)
Keywords: mail
Message-ID: <143921@sun.Eng.Sun.COM>
Date: 18 Oct 90 22:58:25 GMT
References: <16906@thorin.cs.unc.edu>
Sender: news@sun.Eng.Sun.COM
Organization: O'Reilly && Associates
Lines: 45

In article <16906@thorin.cs.unc.edu> winslett@widor.cs.unc.edu (Michael Winslett) writes:
> Does anyone know where I can get a description of the X.400 standard
> for electronic mail?

I looked and looked and found nothing.  So, I finally
called OMNICOM, INC (703-281-1135) and ordered it.  I got the
"1988 Blue book" volume VIII.7.  It's $93.  This is a very
technically oriented book with extremely dry language.. Keep a
glass of water next to you at all times.  I have not read the
whole thing yet (is that possible?), but from what I have read,
I find many inconsistencies and unresolved issues.  There are
spider webs of terms referenced in glossaries, and then back
into the text and then back again to the glossary forming a
hop-count error...  whoops!  Can't do that!  X.400 doesn't
specify what to do in case of mail forwarding loops!

The fun doesn't stop there...  (here's the flame).

It even states in the text that X.400 is not a standard. Rather,
it is a "recommendation for consideration."  Admittedly, it's hard
to determine if some of the things they recommend is actually
faulty because it's so hard to follow the logic and reasoning in
the text that you are left thinking: hmmm... is that wrong or did
I just miss a section somewhere? You don't know what's real and
what's not...

Please, X.400 is *NOT A STANDARD* just as Motif is not a standard
nor is OPEN LOOK despite what the marketing people try to tell
you.  X.400 has some good ideas and they address some badly needed
issues that are not adequately dealt with given our current system
(SMTP).  But, it is far from a standard... however, it will be a
standard if no one comes up with something better..

flame off...

I would really like someone to anti-flame this message. I feel
I deserve it.  I am so down on X.400 because everyone thinks
they need to support it because they are misinformed that it
has been standardized.  If people have definite arguments in
favor of X.400, please follow up and let's discuss them!
--
dan
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