Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!wasatch!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!agate!bionet!ames!amdahl!pyramid!ctnews!mitisft!kemnitz
From: kemnitz@mitisft.Convergent.COM (Gregory Kemnitz)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.x
Subject: Re: Performance comparison between X-based windowing and Pres. Mgr.
Summary: PM/X = X + Delta(X)
Keywords: slime, scam, scum, sleaze, slick, suits
Message-ID: <648@mitisft.Convergent.COM>
Date: 28 Apr 89 01:32:37 GMT
References: <225@gollum.UUCP> <188@cs.columbia.edu>
Organization: Convergent Technologies, San Jose, CA
Lines: 35

In article <188@cs.columbia.edu>, jordan@cs.columbia.edu (Jordan Hayes) writes:
> James P. Davis <jdavis@gollum.UUCP> asks:
> 
> 	Has anyone looked at the relative differences in performance
> 	between an X based windowing systems (like, DECWindows, OPEN
> 	LOOK, or Motif) and Presentation Manager under OS/2?
> 
> I was told by Bill Gates that PMX (Presentation Manager under Unix?)
> was going to be (should be done by now?) implemented on top of X ...
> 

PM/X is Microsoft's implementation of PM for X-Window (sort of).  It will
require "enhancements" to X protocol in order to run.  Therefore, it will not
run on a "vanilla" X terminal or workstation server.  That is, in order to
run your PM/X application, you will need to be running Presentation Manager
on your workstation.  Take note:  This means you must be running OS/2 and
PM and the PM server software.  So junk your Sun or PMAX and now get a 386
(thoretically a 286) based PC to use as your "X + delta(X)" terminal. 
Estimated price, at least $8K for this using a no-name clone with 8 (count 'em
8) megabytes of memory for decent performance.  You want server source?  Go
work for Microsoft.

It is possible that if MicroSoft gets the X Consortium to "enhance" X protocol
to allow PM/X to run, you might (in the mid Nineties) be able to run a PM/X
client and a PM/X server without any Microsoft or Intel stuff in the way.

By the way, this 386 scheme means that you need another computer to actually
run your clients.

Don't go for PM/X.  OSF/Motif is a compromise product between IBM and DEC in
that SAA/PM look and feel are maintained while looking like DECwindows to the
programmer.  If your Corperate Decision Makers want PM look and feel, get
Motif since it does not require changes to X protocol.

					Greg Kemnitz