dennis@nosc.mil (Dennis Cottel) (05/07/91)
At the end of March we were discussing OSF's lack of DM features. At David Krowitz's suggestion I sent in an APR asking for DM functionality in OSF. I thought that anyone who didn't send in their own APR (you all did, right?) might be interested in the response, not that there's a lot of content. I note that they didn't specify who wants to "hear" what we find most important. Dennis Cottel, dennis@NOSC.MIL, (619) 553-1645 Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego, CA 92152 Service Request Number: J600625814 Reply date: 4/16/91 Submitter Text: Since HP/Apollo is going to force us to switch over to OSF from Domain/OS, you have to provide the same functionality which we now have available to us under Domain/OS. Specifically, you must provide all the capabilities of the Display Manager in the OSF/Motif environment. Reason Will Not Implement: Thank you for your Service Request regarding DM functionality on OSF. While this request was part of the original requested product functionality there are currently no plans to implement all DM features in OSF. We agree that the DM environment is an extremely strong user environment but the trend of the industry is toward standards. In our immediate OSF offerings we will be implementing the standards which are so much in demand. There are no plans to implement full DM functionality under OSF. We do, however, wish to add certain DM features into our future offerings, as possible, and would be very interested in hearing what features you find most important. Currently, we consider the DM editor to be a good candidate for a possible future enhancement. [...] We have investigated your suggestion and we have concluded that it cannot be effectively addressed in this product. [...]
krowitz@RICHTER.MIT.EDU (David Krowitz) (05/08/91)
There is an interesting note to this ... OSF does *not* specify the display manager *anywhere* in there specs. HP will be giving us HP/VUE, DEC will have something else, so will IBM. The answer is disingeneous. Standards are not an issue in this case. The San Diego ADUS conference will again include an engineering directions session. This year we will be running it a little different than in the past. We will try to avoid the smaller issue (ie. "please add the -froboz switch to the foobar program") and concentrate on strategic directions (ie. "give us a DM-style display manager, and stop BS'ing about non- existant standards"). Come to San Diego. Vote early. Vote often. Fill out the on-line customer survey form. In the section marked "comments", comment about HP's tendancy to use "standards" as an excuse for inaction. Come to the HP management round table. Tell them face-to-face that "me-too" standards are fine, but that you want technical inovation ON TOP OF that, not just "standards-based" optional products. The conference packet is in the mail to all registered ADUS members, if you are not an ADUS member, call Andrea Woloski or Carol Relph (508) 256-6600 and get registered. -- David Krowitz krowitz@richter.mit.edu (18.83.0.109) krowitz%richter.mit.edu@eddie.mit.edu krowitz%richter.mit.edu@mitvma.bitnet (in order of decreasing preference)