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From: sjs@jcricket.ctt.bellcore.com (Stan Switzer)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.news
Subject: Re: NeWS and Display PostScript
Keywords: NeWS, Display PostScript
Message-ID: <13958@bellcore.bellcore.com>
Date: 10 Feb 89 14:50:58 GMT
References: <912@mailrus.cc.umich.edu>
Sender: news@bellcore.bellcore.com
Reply-To: sjs@ctt.bellcore.com (Stan Switzer)
Organization: Computer Technology Transfer, Bellcore
Lines: 50

> What's the beef between Adobe and Sun?? I've just started reading
> Adobe's Display PostScript System Reference manual and it sounds
> like Adobe doesn't like Sun's NeWS system at all. 

Indeed, Adobe and Sun should rally to what is certainly their common
cause.  Notwithstanding the IBM NeXTStep deal, Microsoft has been
making noises along the lines of "What's so great about PostScript?
The presentation manager does the same stuff."

Now, we all know that this is only true to a very rough approximation,
but PC types run leminglike whichever way Gates & Co. point.  But is
it all hype?  Decide for yourself: they are already talking about
developing their own page description language.

We risk seeing all of the benefits of this wonderful technology swept
away because of least-common-denominatorism of the very worst kind.
Let's face it, X and PM application developers will be very hesitant
to use DPS extensions because it will limit their products to those
users who run extended servers.  ONLY with NeWS can you say with
certainty "It's in there."  Only in NeWS can a programmer confidently
take advantage of the power of PostScript.

Now the problem is this:  What's in it for Adobe?

Let's examine some possibilities:

1) Sun goes fully DPS compatable in NeWS and licenses some
documentation, technology, or something from Adobe.

2) Sun licenses Adobe font format technology and consequently can use
Adobe fonts.  This makes NeWS better (much better), and creates a
whole new (very big) market for Adobe fonts.  Adobe fonts are very
fine indeed.

3) NeWS/DPS creates new markets for Adobe software products such as
Illustrator.

4) DPS display technology sells PostScript printers.

There ARE ways for both parties to benefit from ending this stupid
war.

If Adobe and Sun cannot come to some kind truce about PostScript and
don't start working together, both NeWS and eventually PostScript will
go down the drain.  This would be a damn shame.

Stan Switzer  sjs@ctt.bellcore.com
     "Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things
      before breakfast."
     [Now, where DID I put that bagel?]