Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!bcm!stanh
From: stanh@meyerhof.iaims.bcm.tmc.edu (Stan Hanks)
Newsgroups: comp.graphics.visualization
Subject: Re: info needed
Message-ID: <2691@gazette.bcm.tmc.edu>
Date: 8 Nov 90 23:16:32 GMT
References: <1990Nov8.173804.5775@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu>
Sender: usenet@bcm.tmc.edu
Reply-To: stanh@meyerhof.iaims.bcm.tmc.edu (Stan Hanks)
Organization: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tx
Lines: 40
Nntp-Posting-Host: meyerhof.iaims.bcm.tmc.edu


In article <1990Nov8.173804.5775@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu>, andyrose@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu (Andy Rose) writes:
|> I will or could someone dispel or clarify some of the following:

Well, we can at least add some grist to the rumor mill....

|> d. AVS 3 will run under X windows (which would be super)

AVS runs under X windows now, but not like I think you mean. AVS really
wants to make DORE calls, and there is a DORE implementation for
vanilla X, soooo.....  We're working on the problem in my lab. I think
it's tractible. And think about this: if Convex and Cray have licenced
this stuff, why? When was the last time you saw a Cray with a frame
buffer anyway??? [no snide remarks from anyone at LANL, please....]

|> e. AVS will run on Silicon Graphics.  AVS will run on RS-6000.

AVS was shown by Convex being displayed on a SillyG machine. The current
X implementation is so bad as to make it nearly intractible, despite a
*REALLY GOOD* DORE implementation that's based on GL (useful for doing
certain classes of distributed visualization where a Cray is doing the
hard part and a SillyG doing the rendering, incidently).

Last I heard, Stardent was looking for 3rd party software houses to do
resellable ports to the SGI, Sun, and RS/6000 platforms. Haven't chatted
with the right folks in a while, so I don't know the status.

|> f. Silicon Graphics is developing an AVS-like product as is Sun.

I can't comment on that, but what do you think? They've re-invented 
every other wheel....

Regards,



--
Stanley P. Hanks      Director, Information Technology Planning and Development
Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston TX 77030, Mail Stop: IR-3
e-mail: stanh@bcm.tmc.edu       voice: (713) 798-4649       fax: (713) 798-3729