Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!csinc!rpeglar
From: rpeglar@csinc.UUCP (Rob Peglar)
Newsgroups: comp.arch
Subject: Re: OS cost component of workstation
Summary: Resolution?
Message-ID: <239@csinc.UUCP>
Date: 7 Nov 90 15:52:21 GMT
References: <2840@crdos1.crd.ge.COM> <1990Nov6.222057.17797@ico.isc.com>
Organization: Control Systems, Inc., St. Paul MN
Lines: 39

In article <1990Nov6.222057.17797@ico.isc.com>, rcd@ico.isc.com (Dick Dunn) writes:
(stuff deleted)
> 
> Figure it out:  You need a monitor capable of 1024x768, probably color.  If
> your brain operates at anything close to normal frequency (some suits can
> apparently tolerate a 56 Hz monitor, but few other folks can), you need a
> pretty good display card.  That's about $700 over the cost of a good char-
> acter display and card.  Davidsen's right about memory--add 4 Mb @ $50-55.
> Add a mouse (we'll waste a precious serial port) for $75 for a decent one.
> Oh, and you'll need a bunch more disk.  Better add at least 20 Mb; incre-
> mental cost is $3.50-4.00/Mb.  You've added over $1000 to the hardware cost
> of a machine that was under $2000.

1kx768?  It is a myth that 1kx768 resolution is necessary for X.  A prime
example is television;  very low resolution, but the images are spectacular.
Why?  Analog color.  Learning from this example, the key is not resolution,
but color ability.  The brain is capable, relatively speaking, of seeing
many more colors (distinguishing) than very small dots.  (One of the reasons
"wide lines" present problems currently).  Monitor refresh, on the other
hand, is very important.  70 Hz at least for flicker-free (zero eye strain).
One wonders how many eyes have lost retinal capability by looking into
bad monitors.

640x480x256 is marginal for adequate imaging.  640x480x1k is better,
640x480x16k is virtually indistinguishable (oxymoron, i know) from
television.  Sound odd?  Perhaps.  

Resolution is key if one is drawing huge, 2D (e.g. AEC-type) drawings,
and you want to be able to zoom into the drawing at factors like 1x10^15
and such.  For X, color ability and monitor capability is key, not
resolution. 

Rob

-- 
Rob Peglar	Comtrol Corp.	2675 Patton Rd., St. Paul MN 55113
		A Control Systems Company	(800) 926-6876

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