Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.milw.wisc.edu!lll-winken!xanth!nic.MR.NET!shamash!com50!pai!erc From: erc@pai.UUCP (Eric Johnson) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga Subject: Re: X11 for Amiga, Announcement Warning Summary: Request more info please... Message-ID: <491@pai.UUCP> Date: 1 May 89 17:36:27 GMT References: <722@boing.UUCP> Distribution: na Organization: Prime Automation, Inc., Burnsville, MN Lines: 113 In article <722@boing.UUCP>, dale@boing.UUCP (Dale Luck) writes: > > X11 Released for the Amiga Computer > ----------------------------------- > > The first release of X11 that runs on the lowest cost > computer in the world that supports X11 server and client > ...is now available. I read this with GREAT interest, but I have a few questions that I think others may have, too. 1) Will this run on an Amiga 500? Amiga 2000? 2) How much extra RAM should one have to run X11? (I have yet to buy an Amiga. Being able to run X11--and develop X11 programs, will probably sell me permanently on the Amiga.) Anyway, what hardware will I need? 3) Will I need an Ethernet card? I only intend the Amiga for local X development and execution, i.e., I do not intend to make use of X's network transparency, on the Amiga. For example, the Apple Mac II (if I may mention an Apple in this group), running AUX, runs X11 with or without a network card (without a network card all clients are local, obviously). The HP 320 (at least for X10) requires a network card and an ARPA library to run X. On the Amiga (a multitasking system with built-in inter-process communication), do I need an Ethernet card and software to run a local X server and local clients, or can I just use a stock Amiga? > It supports displays up to 1008x1024 on a special monitor > as well as resolutions down to 640x480 on lower cost monitors. 4) What special monitor is this? Also, will X11 run on the standard Amiga monitor with standard Amiga video, or will I need a special graphics hardware system/monitor? 5) Since below you seem to state that X runs on its own Amiga (software) "screen," will I be able to get a GenLock device and transfer my X graphics to Video tape? (This would be great fun.) > X11 on the Amiga takes advantage of the custom blitter > chip to speed up operations... > The Amiga X11 uses tcp/ip over ethernet for connections to > other machines and a highly efficient shared memory message > passing scheme for local connections. This seems to imply that I do not need an Ethernet board and software to run X locally, correct? > Amiga X11 is more than just a server. It includes several > clients that run under the native Amigados os, such as uwm, > xcalc, and bitmap. By including local client capability in > a very low cost workstation, network bandwidth requirements > are lessened compared to a simple X terminal. Isn't multitasking great? Also, looking at the costs below, I suspect an Amiga 500 running your port of X11 will blow the socks off the price for most X terminals. That's a nice thought: An X workstation for the price of an X terminal. 6) Does the system come with xwd? (You mentioned xpr. I usually want to grab my images digitally so I can edit them later, rather than just print them out.) > Amiga X11 coexists with the native windowing operating system > of the Amiga. Because the Amiga can split it's display into > multiple bitmaps with different resolutions and colormaps, one > can be using uwm in one X screen, twm in another screen, > Intuition in the standard Amiga Workbench screen, and any number > of the amazing paint/animation programs available for the Amiga > in another screen. 7) Any chance for cut and paste between Amiga windows and X windows? > Xlib and Xt libraries are planned for introduction later this > year. 8) How much will this X development system cost? To me, X isn't that useful unless I can develop code for it. > Price and Availability: X11 for the Amiga is priced at $395. > X11 plus Optical 3 button Mouse is $475. X11,mouse, and > ethernet board is priced at $1339. Availability is immediate. > > > Dale Luck > GfxBase > 1881 Ellwell Dr. > Milpitas, Ca. 95035 > 408-262-1469 Again, this sounds just wonderful, and it may sell a few Amigas, too. Right now, I'm looking to buy a home X platform, and, since I cannot really afford a Sun 4 or a Silicon Graphics PI (nor a Cray-2 backend), the Amiga running X has a LOT of potential in my book. Thanks in advance, -Eric -- Eric F. Johnson | Phone +1 612-894-0313 | Are we Prime Automation,Inc | UUCP: bungia!pai!erc | having 12201 Wood Lake Drive | UUCP: sun!tundra!pai!erc | fun Burnsville, MN 55337 USA | DOMAIN: erc@pai.mn.org | yet?