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From: willis@ecovsb.ncsu.edu (Bill Willis)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.x
Subject: Re: Motif/Openlook, is there a trend?
Keywords: Motif Openlook trend
Message-ID: <1991Jan23.164403@ecovsb.ncsu.edu>
Date: 23 Jan 91 22:04:03 GMT
References: <426@yonder.UUCP>
Sender: news@ncsuvx.ncsu.edu (USENET News System)
Reply-To: willis@ecovsb.ncsu.edu (Bill Willis)
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Lines: 41

--

This all appears to be a very interesting discussion of how many
ways to count something. As someone who purchases a lot of workstations
this is how we count:

If I specify vendor supported Motif in a purchase specification
I get responses from lots of vendors of machines utilizing
different architectures... Lots of options to choose from
in terms of performance range, architecture, risc/cisc, etc.
I can make my decision based on who can help me the most
and support my needs. The list includes some large vendors
with a long history of product support and service.

If I specify OpenWindows I get a response from Sun and
a few Sparc clones. No options, no choices... 

We believe that Sun (and clones) are vaild choices when we need to purchase
workstations, but I'll be damned if I will let a GUI significantly reduce our
choices of architecture and vendor when time to purchase, nor will I let a
vendor's refusal to support what we specify inflict multiple or mixed
interfaces on our users.

If there was a single reason for the success of the Macintosh, it was a
consistent
user interface. If we are to have one, it will require committment from those
who purchase systems, not those who argue that theirs is best.
Until Sun comes around, we'll try to provide Motif for our Suns ourselves.
We will lean heavily toward the purchase of applications which utilize Motif
and reject those which do not whenever possible. If our effort to support Motif
becomes too great, we will buy workstations from vendors who provide it for
us.....


Bill Willis, Director                 willis@ecovsa.ncsu.edu
Engineering Computer Operations       willis%ecovsa@ncsuvx.ncsu.edu
Box 7901, School of Engineering
North Carolina State University
(919) 737-2458

               We have met the enemy, and they are us --- Pogo