Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!apple!tahoe!jimi!arrakis!ramesh
From: ramesh@nevada.edu (RAMESH VISWANATHAN)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.idl-pvwave
Subject: Re: Relationship between IDL and PVWAVE
Message-ID: <1991May3.165723.28887@nevada.edu>
Date: 3 May 91 16:57:23 GMT
References: <12802@uhccux.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu> <1991May3.032845.24972@aero.org> <288@venice.water.ca.gov>
Organization: University of Nevada, System Computing Services
Lines: 47

In article <288@venice.water.ca.gov> rfinch@caldwr.water.ca.gov (Ralph Finch) writes:
>
>I am frankly not happy with PVI's handling of their version of IDL.
>It costs a lot more than IDL and any significant additions they have
>added, such as Widgets or Point-and-Click, cost yet extra!  Besides
>which PVI seems hung up on Sunview interfaces.  I'd sure like to see
>some work done with Openwindows.


I agree with the consensus that Point-and-Click is neither very exciting
nor convenient for those real programmers who prefer the CLI (command
line interface) but it offers some "user-friendliness" to those who are
easily intimidated by having to learn and memorize commands.

I too think that PVI is getting "a little" greedy in the prices they
are asking for Point-and-Click.  Methinks they should have offered it
at much lower prices to existing users of Wave who are on the software
maintenance contracts ;-> .

The version of PV Wave I have (3.01) supports the OpenWindows interface.

>> In IDL's newletter, they also
>>indicate that they are working on a DOS version of IDL and a network
>>floating license.

Graphics Visualization on a 486 platform??!!  Come on, let's get real.
But then again it depends upon you application, I guess.

>>IDL Ver 2.1 also has a Statistics Package and some
>>mapping and gridding routines also with a simple coastline database.

I can go for that.

>PVI: are you listening?  How about statistics, DOS, and so on?  How
>about providing *real* value for all the extra $$$'s your customers
>are paying?  How about at *least* telling your customers where you are
>headed, especially with the split that just took place.  I would
>really rather hear about these things from you, rather than from the
>Usenet (thank God for the net though).

Yes, Peter [Hallet].  Are you there!?


Ramesh Viswanathan
"The Trouble Rebel"
Environmental Research Center
Universiy of Nevada-Las Vegas