karsh@geowhiz.UUCP (Bruce Karsh) (11/30/85)
We have been using Visual 500 terminals for a lot of our graphics
work here. They are RS232 terminals with a single plane bitmap. I'm
not very happy with this approach as RS232 is too slow. However, they
are fairly inexpensive (i.e. under $2000).
It seems like the next level of sophistication is graphics workstations
like the Sun. They are, however, too expensive for us.
Has anybody tried using IBM PC's with ethernet and graphics as
graphics terminals on a UNIX system? Is this a feasable way to
go. Does anybody make a packaged system like this?
--
Bruce Karsh
U. Wisc. Dept. Geology and Geophysics
1215 W Dayton, Madison, WI 53706
(608) 262-1697
{ihnp4,seismo}!uwvax!geowhiz!karshgwyn@brl-tgr.ARPA (Doug Gwyn <gwyn>) (12/01/85)
> We have been using Visual 500 terminals for a lot of our graphics > work here. They are RS232 terminals with a single plane bitmap. I'm > not very happy with this approach as RS232 is too slow. However, they > are fairly inexpensive (i.e. under $2000). > > It seems like the next level of sophistication is graphics workstations > like the Sun. They are, however, too expensive for us. > > Has anybody tried using IBM PC's with ethernet and graphics as > graphics terminals on a UNIX system? Is this a feasable way to > go. Does anybody make a packaged system like this? If you haven't already, look into the Teletype 5620 DMD. It works over an RS-232 link but has its own 32-bit processor, mouse, and an 800x1024 bitmap. In conjunction with its UNIX host software, this is a powerful interactive interface to the UNIX system. It sells for around $3K to $4K, much less than a Sun. (Although superficially similar, they take different approaches to UNIX bit-map graphics.)
mercury@ut-dillo.UUCP (Larry E. Baker) (12/01/85)
[] > > We have been using Visual 500 terminals for a lot of our graphics > > work here. They are RS232 terminals with a single plane bitmap. I'm > > not very happy with this approach as RS232 is too slow. However, they > > are fairly inexpensive (i.e. under $2000). > > If you haven't already, look into the Teletype 5620 DMD. > It works over an RS-232 link but has its own 32-bit > processor, mouse, and an 800x1024 bitmap. In conjunction > with its UNIX host software, this is a powerful interactive > interface to the UNIX system. It sells for around $3K to $4K, > much less than a Sun. (Although superficially similar, they > take different approaches to UNIX bit-map graphics.) This may sound somewhat passe, but if all you're looking for is a good graphics terminal, and you're willing to put up with RS-232 even though it is kind of slow, you *could* buy an Atari 520ST with a monochrome monitor for list $799, write a relatively sophisticated terminal emulator, and have a graphics "subsystem" cheaper than just about anything else I can think of. You can do a lot with a 68000 and 512K of memory. It should be possible to design a window environment similar (at least superficially) to that offered by suntools. I don't think its resolution is quite as tight as the teletype, but from what I've seen of the machine (there's a store here with a couple on display that I go play with every now and then) it should be enough for most applications. Hope this helps. Larry -- Larry Baker mercury@ut-ngp.{ARPA, UUCP, UTEXAS.EDU} University of Texas at Austin ut-sally!ut-ngp!mercury@csnet-relay.CSNET Computer Science phgl774@uta3081.BITNET
david@ecrhub.UUCP (David M. Haynes) (12/04/85)
>> > We have been using Visual 500 terminals for a lot of our graphics >> > work here. They are RS232 terminals with a single plane bitmap. I'm >> > not very happy with this approach as RS232 is too slow. However, they >> > are fairly inexpensive (i.e. under $2000). >> >> If you haven't already, look into the Teletype 5620 DMD. >> It works over an RS-232 link but has its own 32-bit >> processor, mouse, and an 800x1024 bitmap. In conjunction > >This may sound somewhat passe, but if all you're looking for is a good >graphics terminal, and you're willing to put up with RS-232 even though it is >kind of slow, you *could* buy an Atari 520ST with a monochrome monitor for >list $799, write a relatively sophisticated terminal emulator, and have >a graphics "subsystem" cheaper than just about anything else I can think of. >You can do a lot with a 68000 and 512K of memory. > There *is* an ethernet available for the ST. (running 2Mb bandwidth) Its called Imaginet and also couples to PCs, XTs, ATs, Rainbows and other goodies. Imaginet runs $1,200 (cdn) a node, so for about $2,000 (the price orignally mentioned) you could have ST and Ethernet too! -- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- They only asked me one question, and David M. Haynes that was, "What is your name?" ..!utzoo!yetti!utrc-2at!davidh And I got 75% on that one... ..!utzoo!ecrhub!david [Peter Cook - Beyond the Fringe] Emerald City Research Inc. is very kind to let me use their machine, but in no way is even remotely responsible for the stuff I post.
hutch@sdcsvax.UUCP (Jim Hutchison) (12/08/85)
Well, since you are already in the ~$2k range, how about an amiga?
1500, or 2k with the 68020 expansion that plugs them up with 1M of
memory (the expansion is targeted at January, I expect to see it Feb).
You can buy a nice monitor $500, and then you have a fine workstation.
1M memory, 68020 processor, plenty of graphics hardware (sprite manager
and a few other nicetys).
-Jim. Hutch@sdcsvax.arpa
--
/*
Jim Hutchison UUCP: {dcdwest,ucbvax}!sdcsvax!hutch
ARPA: hutch@sdcsvax
[ Of course, these statements were typed into my terminal while I was away. ]
*/