Willard McCarty <MCCARTY@vm.epas.utoronto.ca> (02/10/90)
Humanist Discussion Group, Vol. 3, No. 1027. Friday, 9 Feb 1990. (1) Date: Thu, 8 Feb 90 23:23:54 PST (8 lines) From: Paul Delany <USERAARY@SFU.BITNET> Subject: 3.1019 Ideal workstation (2) Date: 9 Feb 90 09:39:22-EST (37 lines) From: HAHNE@UTOREPAS Subject: Ideal Workstation (3) Date: Fri, 9 Feb 90 11:46:00 EST (11 lines) From: DEL2@phoenix.cambridge.ac.uk Subject: Re: [3.1004 ideal workstation! (144)] (4) Date: Fri, 09 Feb 90 13:08:51 EST (88 lines) From: Andrew Gilmartin <ANDREW@BROWNVM> Subject: A Scholars Environment (5) Date: Fri, 9 Feb 90 10:35:00 EST (10 lines) From: N_EITELJORG@cc.brynmawr.edu Subject: Re: 3.1020 ideal workstations (85) (1) -------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 8 Feb 90 23:23:54 PST From: Paul Delany <USERAARY@SFU.BITNET> Subject: 3.1019 Ideal workstation Re Charles Faulhaber's example of multitasking: what software was he using at his end, other than Sun/OS? What was the on-line library catalogue running, and how was it possible to cut and paste from it? (2) --------------------------------------------------------------47---- Date: 9 Feb 90 09:39:22-EST From: HAHNE@UTOREPAS Subject: Ideal Workstation I agree with Charles Faulhaber that multitasking is one of the essential features of a good humanities workstation. But I disagree when he complains that he cannot run his database and word processor at the same time on an today's IBM PC systems. I have been running a DOS multitasker called EZDOSIT for over 4 years on an ordinary 8086 based Compaq deskpro. I regularly download files and work on my database or word processor at the same time. I also run Word Perfect and the LIBRARY MASTER database manager at the same time. This allows me to keep my research notes and bibliographic references on the database and do my writing with my word processor. At the push of a button I can send a note or part of a note or a bibliographic reference formatted in the style sheet of my choice from the database to my word processor document. This inexpensive (under $100) program is probably the most useful single program I own, in terms of increasing productivity. Other solutions include DOUBLE DOS (which does multitasking) and Multiple Choice, which is shareware. The latter option does not give you multitasking, but only context switching so you can have both programs in memory in different virtual machines and switch between them in a fraction of a second. But it is very cheap and greatly increases the productivity of a database program like LIBRARY MASTER, since it simulate the convenience of an integrated program like NOTABENE, by allowing you to run the word processor and database of your choice at the same time. Of course for someone like Charles the obvious solution is WINDOWS 386 or DESKVIEW. These programs allow a 386 based machine (such as his Model 70) to run multiple DOS applications in different windows. If I could afford it, I would buy a 386 clone and one of these programs. It is as close to an ideal workstation as you can get with today's hardware. We can always hope and wait for the "ideal" system, but unfortunately our work can't wait for the ideal arrive. Today's work has to be done today. Harry Hahne <HAHNE@UTOREPAS> (3) --------------------------------------------------------------19---- Date: Fri, 9 Feb 90 11:46:00 EST From: DEL2@phoenix.cambridge.ac.uk Subject: Re: [3.1004 ideal workstation! (144)] Sounds like I have the ideal workstation, according to at least many of the comments I have read. All applications open at once, I can get email and stick it straight into any other application without problems. It cost me 200 pounds sterling, and you can add to the wish-list absolute portability, almost total silence and the ability to pour coffee on the keyboard. It's the Cambridge Z88. Regards, Douglas de Lacey, Cambridge UK. (4) --------------------------------------------------------------96---- Date: Fri, 09 Feb 90 13:08:51 EST From: Andrew Gilmartin <ANDREW@BROWNVM> Subject: A Scholars Environment Attempting to answering my own question I would like to suggest not the ideal but a practical environment that is extensible. Workstation The basic configuration is a Macintosh Plus with 2.5Mb of memory, a 40Mb hard disk, and a network connection. Where departments or individuals can afford better hardware they should consider the Macintosh SE/30 and the Macintosh IIcx. Network A department's workstations are connected together via PhoneNet (presumably with Star Controllers). These departmental networks are then connected to a campus wide ethernet backbone with Kinetics gateways. Upon the ethernet lives centrally maintained unix boxes (I don't know enough about unix boxes to suggested which kind to buy). It is important to highlight that unix boxes are very difficult to maintain but offer the greatest reward in terms of configuration flexibility and long term growth: As you need more power buy another unix box and it to the pool of existing unix boxes. Software I am here concerned not with microcomputer applications but more with campus wide file access, electronic mail, and remote login to the unix boxes. For campus-wide file access each Macintosh has the AppleShare workstation software installed. The unix boxes have the Columbia AppleTalk Protocol (CAP) installed (providing AppleShare like servers). With this configuration, a unix box's volumes can be mounted by any Macintosh and, more importantly, be used just like any other Macintosh volume (diskette or hard disk). For campus wide electronic mail and remote login to the unix boxes each Macintosh has MacTCP software installed. This allows the Macintoshes access, via the Kinetics gateways, to TCP/IP servers. These services include telnet, SMTP, and POP2. Telnet service allows remote login. NCSA Telnet is a Macintosh application that uses these services. SMPT and POP2 services have to do with electronic mail. While the details are complex, Stanford's MacMH is a Macintosh application that uses these services to provide electronic mail. I think unix access is very important for it is there that you can find the tools necessary to do the types of data processing needed in many fields including the humanities. Support This is the most difficult to solve. At the minimum you need a network support organization that maintains the campus wide "plumbing." A systems organization that maintains the unix boxes, does backups, dispatches printed output, etc. A general user support organization that handles everything from getting a new account to doing footnotes in Microsoft Word. Lastly, and most importantly, you need a project support group. User services organizations can not handle the tasks involved in supporting a humanities project. Any project needs planning, in the humanities this planning must come from people that know both computing and the field. Those on HUMANIST has spoken often and clearly about this need. What I haven't made clear is how this configuration helps the humanist. In essence, every user now has on her desktop a Macintosh for preparing new documents and otherwise looking into the world, a unix workstation for processing the texts, very large disks that someone else backs up, and lastly electronic communication. As someone who works primarily with technology the above seems like a productive environment. Comments? -- Andrew Gilmartin Computing & Information Services Brown University Box 1885 Providence, Rhode Island 02912 andrew@brownvm.brown.edu (internet) andrew@brownvm (bitnet) (5) -------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 9 Feb 90 10:35:00 EST From: N_EITELJORG@cc.brynmawr.edu Subject: Re: 3.1020 ideal workstations (85) George Aichele asks about data interchange across computer platforms. In the computer-assisted drafting and design area, that is one of the most important benefits of AutoCAD. Data files are transparently interchangeable across various platforms. Macs, PCs, Unix (Sun, at least) files are all the same and can be transferred from one to another without translation. Nick Eiteljorg (n_eiteljorg@brynmawr)