Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!julius.cs.uiuc.edu!apple!alan.aux.apple.com!abm
From: abm@alan.aux.apple.com (Alan Mimms)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.x
Subject: Re: Not impressed with MacX (performance)
Message-ID: <11491@goofy.Apple.COM>
Date: 11 Dec 90 18:38:46 GMT
References: <9012101615.AA21897@expo.lcs.mit.edu> <12775@milton.u.washington.edu>
Sender: usenet@Apple.COM
Reply-To: abm@alan.aux.apple.com (Alan Mimms)
Organization: Apple Computer, Inc.
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In article <12775@milton.u.washington.edu>, mattf@cac.washington.edu (Matthew Freedman) writes:
|> In article <9012101615.AA21897@expo.lcs.mit.edu> jmw9681@USAV01.GLAXO.COM ("J. Michael Word") writes:
|> >I recently had the fortune to witness a demonstration of Mac-X and I was
|> >very surprised at the slooooooow speed of the server running on a MacIIfx!
|> 
|> >...  I'd love to see an explanation
|> >for why Mac-X is such a pig.  (Given the circumstances, all I could really do
|> >to test the performance was run ico.  Your mileage may vary.)
|> 
|> I have been trying to get an explanation for awhile. I have large
|> motif-based application, which we would love to make available to all
|> of our Macintosh users on campus, but it is way to slow.  Like 5-10
|> seconds to pull down a menu, 10 seconds minimum to redraw an entire
|> window.

Perhaps I can help?  I wrote a good fraction of MacX.  What communications
setup do you have (i.e., are you using TCP on Ethernet or LocalTalk or
what)?  What kinda CPU?  What kinda display device?  Where's your client
with respect to routers and your Macintosh?  What kinda CPU is the CLIENT
running on?

Motif (especially 1.0) did a HUGE amount of round-trip client requests for
practically every possible operation that you'd want to go fast.  But for
slow communications environments, this is not going to be fast.

If you'll give me some more information, I'll try to help you out...

|> Has anybody had any experience with eXodus from White Pine? Is it any
|> better?

I have.  It's pretty good.  You might want to try it.  If you're trying to
suck massive bits thru a tiny little 250kbit/sec straw, though, you'll
encounter at least as much trouble.  Also, I like mine better (sorry Terrell
:->).

|> 
|> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
|> = Matthew M. Freedman                                                 =
|> = U. of Washington Information Systems       mattf@cac.washington.edu =
|> = 4545 15th Ave. NE; 4th Floor               (206) 543-5593           =
|> = Seattle, WA  98105                                                  =
|> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

-- 

Alan Mimms (alan@apple.com, ...!apple!alan)   | My opinions are generally
A/UX X group                                  | pretty worthless, but
Apple Computer                                | they *are* my own...
"Laugha whila you can, monkey boy..." -- John Whorfin in Buckaroo Bonzai
"Never rub another man's rhubarb" -- The Joker in BatMan