[comp.sys.amiga] SURVEY RESULTS: Data Plotting on Amiga

xrtnt@amarna.gsfc.nasa.gov (Nigel Tzeng) (06/15/90)

In article <9051@wehi.dn.mu.oz>, BAXTER_A@wehi.dn.mu.oz writes...
^EMAIL SURVEY: Data Plotting on the Amiga
^ 
^People with a use for a data plotting program were asked to reply.
^The name of any currently used program was requested.
^ 
^Number of responses: 27 (including one department)

[statistics deleted]

^ 
^Comments:
^ 
^That seems like a fair number of respondents and I am aware of others
^who are interested but did not respond. I still suspect there is not 
^a commercially viable market for a graph plotting program on the Amiga
^because:
^	Few people plot graphs
^	Those that do have access to other machines to do it.
^	Those that do tend to be poor (ie students).

Hmmm...perhaps there won't be a market until someone puts out a package that
that is as good as the stuff on other machines.  The Amiga is a good platform
for science work except for the lack of tools to display data.  Places may just
by Amigas to do Tex and you might get buyers from there.

^ 
^Another problem for a commercial publisher would be the badly fragmented
^market. While a few people would be happy with rudimentary features
^(like Cricket graph), many people wanted aesoteric features without any
^insight into the unlikelihood of their being well used.

A start is a start.  Since I'm not heavily involved with the science work here
I'm not entirely sure what they need.  I have seen cricket on our macs so they
may use it here.  Either way if there isn't capability it makes getting any
Amigas tougher.

^ 
^Qustions/comments about Multiplot will be answered in a separate posting
^or by email.
^ 
^Hope this was of interest,
^ 
^Regards Alan

NT

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   // | Nigel Tzeng - STX Inc - NASA/GSFC COBE Project
 \X/  | xrtnt@amarna.gsfc.nasa.gov
      | 
Amiga | Standard Disclaimer Applies:  The opinions expressed are my own. 

BAXTER_A@wehi.dn.mu.oz (06/15/90)

EMAIL SURVEY: Data Plotting on the Amiga

People with a use for a data plotting program were asked to reply.
The name of any currently used program was requested.

Number of responses: 27 (including one department)

Programs used (number of responses):

		Multiplot 		6
		Own Program		3
		PlPlot/ListPlot		2
		MatLab			1
		PageStream		1
		Draw2000		1
		DataPlot		1

People who have given up plotting on the Amiga: 6

Where they went:

		Mainframe (unspec)	2
		PC			2
		Unix			1
		Mac			1

People actively working on graph plotting programs:  3
	One person is porting GNUPlot, one was, but gave up.
	The others are working on independantly derived code.

Features requested:

	High res output		    5
	Integration/diff equns	    3
	Log/semi-log plots	    3
	Error bars		    3
	Free/nearly free	    3
	Histograms		    2
	ARexx interface		    2
	Interactive labelling	    2
	Plot functions & data	    1
	3D scatter graphs	    1
	Multiple graph types   	    1
	Polar plots		    1
	Handle e notation           1
	On screen data manipn       1
	Colour points by 3rd param  1

Comments:

That seems like a fair number of respondents and I am aware of others
who are interested but did not respond. I still suspect there is not 
a commercially viable market for a graph plotting program on the Amiga
because:
	Few people plot graphs
	Those that do have access to other machines to do it.
	Those that do tend to be poor (ie students).

Another problem for a commercial publisher would be the badly fragmented
market. While a few people would be happy with rudimentary features
(like Cricket graph), many people wanted aesoteric features without any
insight into the unlikelihood of their being well used.

Qustions/comments about Multiplot will be answered in a separate posting
or by email.

Hope this was of interest,

Regards Alan