[comp.sys.sgi] SGI functionality - Can I do on a PI what I can on a Mac?

jim@jagubox.gsfc.nasa.gov (Jim Jagielski) (10/25/90)

First of all, let me say that the following is NOT intended to start yet
another "Box A is better than Box B; No it isn't Box C is better..."
argument... I just need some insight.

Right now I'm using a MacIIfx running A/UX 2.0. However, with the number
crunching and simulation workload I'm doing, the Mac just can't keep up.
Now one of the things I DO like about my setup is that I can run a FORTRAN
program, then cut the data from the shell window, and then paste it into
a plotting application. (If you have access/experience with Macs, then you
know what I mean... even if you don't I'm sure you do anyway)

In any case, I am seriously looking at upgrading to the PI 4D25 (with the
upgrade to 35) but I don't want to loose that functionality which I
like. Can I do the same on a PI? If so, what applications are available
which let me do it (I'm looking mostly at a word-processor, some kinda
plotting/graphing application and some sort of 2D "drawing" application
with "cut-and-paste" capability between all three).

Is this possible? I hope so, otherwise I'll have to wait until Apple
comes out with their 040, which would STILL be slower than a PI...

... of course I guess I could always use my Mac as my "document" computer,
and the PI as the number cruncher, but I would still have the task of
cutting the screen data and pasting it to a file to be ftped to the
Mac...

Quick E-mail responses would be greatly appreciated!!

--
=======================================================================
#include <std/disclaimer.h>
                                 =:^)
           Jim Jagielski                    NASA/GSFC, Code 711.1
     jim@jagubox.gsfc.nasa.gov               Greenbelt, MD 20771

"Kilimanjaro is a pretty tricky climb. Most of it's up, until you reach
 the very, very top, and then it tends to slope away rather sharply."

jim@jagubox.gsfc.nasa.gov (Jim Jagielski) (10/25/90)

Please send E-mail responses to jim@jagmac2 (NOT jim@jagubox)... Thanks!
--
=======================================================================
#include <std/disclaimer.h>
                                 =:^)
           Jim Jagielski                    NASA/GSFC, Code 711.1
     jim@jagmac2.gsfc.nasa.gov               Greenbelt, MD 20771

"Kilimanjaro is a pretty tricky climb. Most of it's up, until you reach
 the very, very top, and then it tends to slope away rather sharply."

blbates@AERO4.LARC.NASA.GOV ("Brent L. Bates AAD/TAB MS361 x42854") (10/29/90)

   Your requirements don't sound very tough to fill.  If you can do it
on a Mac you should be able to do it on a real computer.  There are
many plotting packages out there for SGI's, some are free.
We use some Ames software: PLOT3D, SURF, GAS, FAST (FAST is new and
still in Beta release).  We also have TECPLOT.  TECPLOT is slower than
the Ames software and cost bucks, but it can do a few things PLOT3D,
SURF, and GAS can't do.  You can "cut-and-paste" between windows on
an SGI.  Although, that technique sounds a little slow if you are
trying to plot a lot of points.
--

	Brent L. Bates
	NASA-Langley Research Center
	M.S. 361
	Hampton, Virginia  23665-5225
	(804) 864-2854
	E-mail: blbates@aero4.larc.nasa.gov or blbates@aero2.larc.nasa.gov