Newsgroups: comp.windows.x
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!uunet!convex!datri
From: datri@convex.com (Anthony A. Datri)
Subject: Re: NeWS/X v. mit X11 server - summary of responses
Message-ID: <1991Jun15.170937.4747@convex.com>
Keywords: X windows
Sender: usenet@convex.com (news access account)
Nntp-Posting-Host: lovecraft.convex.com
Organization: CONVEX Computer Corporation, Richardson, Tx., USA
References: <3241@odin.cs.hw.ac.uk>
Date: Sat, 15 Jun 1991 17:09:37 GMT
Lines: 65

>Has better XDMCP support.

Oh boy.

>Con:	no Display PostScript, no commercial support,

I'm sure that there are plenty of people willing to take money to "support"
MIT's X.  ICS springs to mind, for example.

>no accelerator board
>support

It'll "support" a GX, but not utilize it fully.

>Pro NeWS/X server:
>Extensions available include Display PostScript allowing scalable fonts, etc.
>although "SHAPE" is unavailable in OW 2.0 despite Display PostScript in the
>base server!?

As I understnad it, "Display PostScript" is NeXT's stuff.  Be careful not
to confuse it with "NeWS".


>"pageview" PostScript previewer as standard although "ghostscript", "xps"
>and "ralpage" are all public domain alternatives which run on the mit server.

Xps is an old version of ralpage.

>It is a commercial system thus you can demand commercial support.

For what it's worth.

>The server includes support for graphics accelerator boards

It'll run on a GS only in monochrome.  It won't run on the cg8 or cg9, and
won't take advantage of the gp's.  It claims to take advantage of the cg6,
but in practice the MIT server "feels" smoother.

>plus server optimisation for Sun hardware.

Read above.

>Easy compatibility for sunview applications.

When running a suntools program under the xnews server, you can't place any
normal windows over the suntools window.

>Con: memory/disk hog, no SHAPE extension, arguably buggier with slow turn-around
>times for bug fixes, must buy source, public domain software tough to build for
>OW, requires a higher spec machine, poor XDMCP support.

I'll agree with most of that.  You can always delete the things you don't use,
though -- like any package.   To my knowledge, XDMCP is used solely by xdm,
and thus isn't of interest anyway.

>On the other hand, the mit X11 server will appeal to those who don't mind
>"getting their hands dirty", who are happy to rely on the net, etc. for support

I've gotten more help from the net about the xnews server than from Sun.

--


  Fly to the sky on GI-GI____________ and shout to
datri@convex.com
