Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!bionet!news.cs.indiana.edu!bronze!cricket.bio.indiana.edu!gilbertd
From: gilbertd@cricket.bio.indiana.edu (Don Gilbert)
Newsgroups: bionet.software
Subject: Re: X-Windows, InterViews, and molecular biology software
Message-ID: <1991Feb14.235126.25390@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu>
Date: 14 Feb 91 23:51:26 GMT
References: <1991Feb13.005957.3523@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu> <91045.175752X03@psuvm.psu.edu>
Sender: news@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu (USENET News System)
Organization: Biology, Indiana University - Bloomington
Lines: 19

In article <91045.175752X03@psuvm.psu.edu> X03@psuvm.psu.edu writes:
>I have a question about using X terminal.  Currently we are using Silicon
>Graphics IRIS for protein structure manipulation.  The programs we have are
>QUANTA, MIDAS,...  My question is, if it's possible to run such programs from
>an X terminal, since these programs are graphics extensive applications.  Do I
>need a special type of X ternimal, or, say, using MacX to turn a Mac into a
>X ternimal also works?

Molecular modelling software requires very intesive use of displays.  X-Windows
also has a very high computing and network "expense" associated with it.
While putting the two together may be possible, it will likely lead to a
very slow, unacceptably slow program.   MacX adds an even greater drag on this
system compared to using, say, an IRIS for your X-Terminal.  But I'm no
expert in this area.  -- Don


-- 
Don Gilbert                                     gilbert@bio.indiana.edu
biocomputing office, biology dept., indiana univ., bloomington, in 47405