dona@ncr-fc.FtCollins.NCR.COM (Don Allingham) (01/20/89)
I am relatively new to the X system. I've done a small amount of programming using Xlib, Xt, and Open Dialogue. Overall, I'm impressed with the system, especially with its portibility. I recently saw a demo of Steve Jobs NeXT machine at a local university. The machine uses DisplayPostscript instead of X. It was *very* impressive. Screen displays were *much* faster than X on my Sun 3/60. Is this typical of DisplayPostscript, or is it just the NeXT machine? How does Sun's NeWS (which I believe also uses DisplayPostscript) match against X? In addition, NeXT provides an interface builder, which allows complex user interfaces to be developed in minutes (I've heard rumors the HP is coming up with something similar for X). The buttons, scrollbars, text windows, etc., where much more complex (and better looking) than anything I've seen under X so far. Why? Is DisplayPostscript better than X? Or has NeXT devoted more effort to the problem? Or does NeXT have an advantage of only worrying about their machine? How does Big Blue fit into the picture? They have licenced NeXT's interface. Will this damage the X standard's acceptance? Sun is supposedly developing a NeWS/X server to allow both systems to co-exist. Is this the best approach? Also the GNU project is supposedly building "Ghostscript" into X. As you can see, I have a lot of questions about graphics standards. I don't know enough yet to make a good decision. Any comments would be appreciated. =============================================================================== Don Allingham NCR Microelctronics Fort Collins CO, 80525 (303) 223-5100 ext. 378
jgarb@erim.ORG (Joe Garbarino) (01/21/89)
Hi. I'm Joe Garbarino at ERIM in Ann Arbor, Mi. Don Allingham writes >In addition, NeXT provides an interface builder, which allows complex user >interfaces to be developed in minutes (I've heard rumors the HP is coming up >with something similar for X). The buttons, scrollbars, text windows, etc., There is an interface builder currently available for X. It's called TAE+ and is put out by the people at Goddard Space Flight Center. It's currently in beta test but works very well for us. It's currently using the Xrlib User Interface Toolbox, but V4.0, due out this summer, will use the X Toolkit architecture. We have used the system extensively on our Sun 3/60s and have been very happy with it (excepting the fact that the color X server available for the Sun is a bit slow, but liveable). It currently generates C code, but will also generate Ada. If you are interested, let me know and I can tell you how to get in touch with the TAE Support Office. Joe Garbarino ERIM P.O. Box 8618 Ann Arbor, Mi. 48107 (313)994-1200 x2508 jgarb@csd360b.erim.org
rws@EXPO.LCS.MIT.EDU (Bob Scheifler) (01/21/89)
Screen displays were *much* faster than X on my Sun 3/60.
As has been pointed out many times before on this list, comparing the
untuned MIT-distributed Sun server against *anything* is one of the
least useful comparisons you can make.
I've heard rumors the HP is coming up with something similar for X.
There are a number of "interface builder" and UIMS type products for X either
on the market or very close to it. Several products in this area were
submitted to the OSF, for example.
How does Big Blue fit into the picture? They have licenced NeXT's
interface. Will this damage the X standard's acceptance?
Have you seen anything official from IBM which states that they *won't* be
using the technology in the X environment? If much of this stuff is based
on "vanilla" Display PostScript, then Adobe's Display PostScript extension to
X should carry it just fine.gordon@software.ORG (01/31/89)
Joe, Hi. I would like to get in touch with the TAE Support Office. Can you send me the address? Thanks, Del Gordon