Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!att!linac!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!apple!agate!dog.ee.lbl.gov!nosc!cod!zimmer
From: zimmer@cod.NOSC.MIL (Thomas L. Zimmerman)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.x
Subject: Re: Not impressed with MacX
Message-ID: <2507@cod.NOSC.MIL>
Date: 29 Nov 90 21:53:19 GMT
References: <9011290612.AA00580@lightning.McRCIM.McGill.EDU>
Organization: Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego
Lines: 36

>complaints about the way  MacX treats the display variable, window boarders
>rooted vs. non-rooted windows, etc.

The folks doing the complaining seem to be missing the whole point of
MacX. It is not intended to be a consistent X environment like that on
a UNIX workstation. For that you can run A/UX and real X11R4. In that
environment X Windows works exactly like it does on my Sun (except
for the stupid one button mouse). MacX does do some things different than
a normal X Server, but I consider these to be valid enhancements or
compromises - especially when you consider that the majority of Macintosh
users are not "power users". MacX is an excellent attempt at bringing the
ability to run X Windows to the "rest of us". It should be easy to use and
primarily it should complement the MacOS environment. Thus the preference
for rootless windows, default display variable passing, and the rest
of the differences cited. 

I have both a MacFX and a SPARCStation. The mac
normally runs the normal MacOS and I make heavy use of MacX to talk to
the Sun. The Sun runs X Windows all the time.  I move back and forth
regularly and have no problems (exceptt the mouse :-)). I love being able 
to mix up the X windows clients with my favorite Mac applications. If MacX 
worked like many of you seem to think it should all I would have is a very 
expensive X terminal. (I know, some people think that would be an 
improvement :-)) I suspect we will see this same issue when the X Servers
for Windows become generally available and I predict that the poor
braindead people who like DOS and Windows ;-) aren't going to want to
give up their applications just to run X either.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lee Zimmerman		zimmer@nosc.mil
Naval Ocean Systems Center, Advanced Concepts and Development Branch
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- 
Lee Zimmerman, Naval Ocean Systems Center, Code 421, San Diego, CA, 92152
{arpa,mil}net: zimmer@nosc.mil
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