From: binegar@hardy.math.okstate.edu (Binegar Birne)
Newsgroups: fj.mail-lists.x-window
Subject: DV/X; the real deal
Date: 28 Jul 92 04:35:47 GMT
Distribution: fj
Organization: Oklahoma State University, Math Department

Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 21:52:56 GMT
Message-Id: <1992Jul27.215256.4722@math.okstate.edu>
Newsgroups: comp.windows.x

h, yeah, I am a bit peeved with QuarterDeck
for the way they've marketed DV/X.  If I had
been working under some boss, I would have
really gotten burned for shelling out $200 for 
what I thought would convert my PC into an X-terminal and then
$200 more for FTP's PCTCP kernel in order to get it to work.  

Many people have already complained about this, 
but I raise it again to let QuarterDeck know that even its
satisfied customers are irritated; and to keep the flame
burning.    

Before discussing DV/X, let me describe our networking environment-
which I suspect is very similar to the majority of readers, whether
in a commercial organization or an academic organization.  I
have a 486 PC. It is connected to a ethernet network on which,
in my immediate neighborhood, thrives a Novell Netware network 
(using ICP protocol) and a network of SUN workstations (using
TCP protocol); and in the large, INTERNET.  

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.  

Since I am not willing to commit these resources just to 
gain an Xterminal capability - I do not intend to use
DV/X on a regular basis.  

Instead, what I intend to do is surrender my copy of DV/X 
to a PC that will function as a dedicated ICP-TCP server/
bridge for our nonhomogeneous network.  For the truly amazing
thing about DV/X is how well it consolidates in one fell swoop
the mass storage units of our ICP and TCP networks, and at the same time
our SUNs gain access to software tools (like spreadsheets, and word
processors) that for some reason are implemented better on our PCs.  In
other words, by installing DV/X on a single dedicated PC
we obtain the functional equivalent of having a copy of SUN
DOS WINDOWS installed on EACH of our SUNS and having 
FTP's Interdrive mounted on our SUNs and the Novell server.

Viewed in this manner, DV/X is a miraculous bargain (even
after adding on the price of a PCTCP kernel) and will 
henceforth be indespensible piece of software for our Novell/SUN
networks.  

Of course, QuarterDeck may not want this to be known, since
only one copy of DV/X is needed per site in order to gain this 
functionality.  But on the other hand, I would argue that there
are more sites out there in dire need of this capability than 
there are single users who are willing to commit the money and 
resources to run DV/X as a proprietary operating environment and/or
X-terminal emulator.  Indeed, I would advise QuarterDeck to seize
the day and get your foot in the door of every site you can -
then even your DV/X development kit will seem like a bargain.   

-- 
Birne Binegar
Mathematics Department, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
Tel. 405-744-5789
Fax. 405-744-8275