ack@caldwr.caldwr.gov (David Ackerman) (07/28/88)
In article <684@genie.UUCP>, dm@genie.UUCP (David Mischel) writes: > From article <8807231328.AA21517@corwin.CCS.Northeastern.EDU>, by mckee@corwin.ccs.northeastern.EDU (George McKee): > > Can anyone say something about prospects for an X server > > for a native-OS Macintosh that's gatewayed from AppleTalk to > > and IP network, a`la NCSA Telnet? > > white pines software (?boston) sounds like they are working on something > but i understand it is going to be serial lines only, at least initially. > so i'm echoing george's call for info on anyone pursuing this project. Some of this info has been posted before, but I'm cross-posting this to several groups for people who only follow one group. I spoke with White Pine software a couple of weeks ago, and they sent me their literature. But the person I spoke with provided me with some info that wasn't in the literature. The X11 server running under the Mac OS has been named the Mercury project. Thus far, the server is a monochrome X11 implementation running on top of DECNET protocols, using Apple's EtherTalk card in a Mac II. It uses a generalized application/session layer running on top of Thursby Software System's DECNET driver, so a TCP/IP driver (such as the one from Kinetics) could be plugged in if you want to use TCP/IP as the transport/network layer. The server pops up a scrollable, resizable Mac window containing a bitmap 1024X1024 pixels in size, which is the size of the server's virtual display size. I was disappointed to hear they don't yet have color support, but the person I spoke with said it would be added after the initial release, which should be sometime in the fall. He also said they would probably plug the TCP/IP driver in and make sure it works ok if there was enough demand for it. That was one of the points made in the literature: the directions the Mercury project takes will definitely be influenced by user demand. So call these people up! Tell them you want color! Tell them you want TCP/IP! Tell them you want whatever! They will probably be happy to send you their literature, and get more input on what should go into the product. You can reach them at: White Pine Software 94 Route 101A, P.O. Box 1108 Amherst, NH 03031 (603) 886-9050 By the way, this is based on phone discussion and White Pine's literature. I would be happy to hear from anyone who has actually *used* it. Does it work as described? If not, please send mail! David Ackerman California Department of Water Resources caldwr!ack@ucdavis.edu (Internet) "It's the water, and a lot more..." ...!ucbvax!ucdavis!caldwr!ack (UUCP) The opinions expressed above are mine, not those of the State of California or the California Department of Water Resources.