X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.3 PL11]
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.banyan-l
Date:         Wed, 26 Aug 1992 15:20:07 PDT
From:         Richard Warner <rick@SJSUMCS.SJSU.EDU>
Subject:      Re: DeskView/X, PC <> Banyan <> Sun
X-To:         BANYAN-L@VM1.CC.UAKRON.EDU
              92 5:53 pm

>
> In regards to DV/X and X emulators on a PC:  We have obtained a site
> license for the PC-Xview software here at Colorado State.  Since NCD
> acquired Spectragraphics, they offer an eduational discount, which allows
> you to get the software for $135, but you have to purchase at least 20
> copies.  Still, that's one of the cheapest prices around.  You can mix
> and match the Windows or DOS version as desired.
>
> The package isn't as sophisticated as the Hummingbird HCL-eXceed, but
> it's 1/3rd the price.  PC-Xview supports several network transports,
> including the FTP Inc. kernel, which is what I use.  It doesn't
> support all the video cards we need it to, but if you run the Windows
> version, you eliminate that problem.
>
> I did purchase the DV/X software, but then found out I had to shell out
> another $200 to get the Network Option, and I haven't done that yet.  But
> I did see this posting in the comp.windows.x newsgroup, which I thought
> was an interesting way to utilize the client side of the DV/X software,
> even though he is a N****l user:

The $200 is for the TCP network option.  Netbios and IPX are included with
the base product.

> > When I ordered DV/X I was simply hoping to be able to log on
> > to one of my colleagues SUNs as an X-terminal and to allow
> > my colleagues to log onto my PC as a favor in return.  This
> > in fact works very well - so long as I don't do anything else
> > with my machine.  However, in doing so, I lose access
> > to all my programs that utilize the protected mode of the 386
> > (in particular, all my programs that run only in MS Windows
> > Enhanced Mode) and, furthermore, my ordinary DOS programs are
> > forced to live in 380K windows (once Netware, PCTCP, and
> > DVX are all loaded).  Moreover, I lose the principal
> > (and arguably the only) advantage of working on a PC; i.e.,
> > the fact that it is my PERSONAL computer.
> >

This is, in fact, incorrect.  What you give up with DV/X is the
capability to run VCPI and ill-behaved DPMI server software.  MS
Windows in enhanced mode is an ill-behaved DPMI server; a DPMI
server is supposed to become subservient to any currently active
DPMI server, and MS Windows in enhanced mode does not follow this
(of course, since MS wrote the DPMI specs, they are free to
break them, right?).  Since VCPI programs are becoming rare and
most DPMI servers are better behaved than Windows, you do not lose
much.

> Jackie Hunt
> Academic Computing & Networking Services    E-mail:
 jackie@lamar.colostate.edu
> Colorado State University		    Phone:   (303) 491-7315
> Fort Collins, CO  80523                     FAX:     (303) 491-1958
>



+-----------------------+-------------------------------------+
|   Richard M. Warner   |   Internet:  rick@sjsumcs.sjsu.edu  |
|                       | CompuServe:  71121,2257             |
+-----------------------+-------------------------------------+
|  ** DISCLAIMER:  All opinions are strictly my own.  I work  |
|                  hard enough at forming them!               |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU