Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ames!ucsd!rutgers!att!skep2!wcs
From: wcs@skep2.ATT.COM (Bill.Stewart.[ho95c])
Newsgroups: comp.arch
Subject: Re: How does the i860 compare as a
Message-ID: <543@skep2.ATT.COM>
Date: 29 Mar 89 02:35:40 GMT
References: <222551@<1989Mar25> <46500057@uxe.cso.uiuc.edu> <GRUNWALD.89Mar27224353@flute.cs.uiuc.edu>
Reply-To: wcs@skep2.UUCP (46323-Bill.Stewart.[ho95c],2G218,x0705,)
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs Center 4632, Holmdel, NJ
Lines: 42

In article <GRUNWALD.89Mar27224353@flute.cs.uiuc.edu> grunwald@flute.cs.uiuc.edu writes:
> While Henry Spencer is correct in stating that the Blit software was
> responsive, I'll bet you ducks to donkeys that:
	The software really was two things - the operating system /
	graphics package for the terminal, and the protcol for the
	communication link.
> + it only runs on Blits
	Layers runs on three flavors of AT&T terminals (real BLIT
	prototype, WE-32000-based DMD5620, 68000-based AT&T 630),
	a hacked-up Atari ST at UToronto (68000), and the AT&T 6300
	PC-Clone (hacked a bit, since you've got that MS-DOS in the
	way, and the graphics doesn't use a contiguous linear memory
	space.)  The protocol also communicates with a couple of
	AT&T terminals that don't have a full graphics/os on the
	terminal but support the standard terminal emulators.)
	Oh, and also on Suns, though I'm not sure if it's runnign on
	top of Sunview or not, and I think you need the V9 OS.
> + it can't run over a network, like X
	How well does X run over RS-232?  (yeah, I know it's been done)
	This is strictly a terminal-to-host protocol, not a WS-to-WS,
	(though the Sun runs both halves).  It's not
	network-transparent, though most of what you need can cross
	arbitray networks.  Ether-Networks were too expensive when the
	BLIT was designed, and cheapness was an objective.  There are
	network implementations being done, though I understand Rob
	doesn't approve.
> + it probably didn't handle color
	BLIT is short for "bitblt".  Bitmaps only.  The Gnot does
	gray-scale.
> + it's not used anymore
	Wrong-o.  The DMD 5620 was priced too high, so it mostly sold
	internally and got given away to universities, but the 630 is
	reasonably-priced (<$2K, 1024x1024 screen) and the partial
	implementations are dumb-terminal priced.  Even Doug Gwyn has some.

Disclaimer:  most of this is accurate, but I got up early today and I'm
not near my regular office, so parts of it are from old memory.
-- 
# Bill Stewart, AT&T Bell Labs 2G218 Holmdel NJ 201-949-0705 ho95c.att.com!wcs
# Washington, DC.  Raining.  Long, cold, heavy rain.  Been raining for days.
# I was here last year in the spring.  It was raining like this then, too.
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