X-VMS-To: IN%"CDROMLAN%IDBSU.BitNet@pucc.PRINCETON.EDU"
MIME-version: 1.0
Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.cdromlan
Date:         Thu, 27 Aug 1992 15:19:54 -0500
              <CDROMLAN@IDBSU.BITNET>
From:         FB23@VAXB.ACS.UNT.EDU
Subject:      Re: Menus vs Windows
X-To:         CDROMLAN%IDBSU.BitNet@pucc.PRINCETON.EDU

Edward J. Craft recently made some comments concerning workstation selection
in regard to a discussion on the pros and cons of Windows used with CD-ROM
networks:

The gist of the message seemed to be that processor technology, graphics
standards, etc., were not terribly important in the choice of a workstation
for LAN CD-ROM access.  I would like to disagree for the following reasons:

1.  In a LAN environment, CPU speed/technology is vitally important.  Remember
that applications (such as CD-ROM search software) is running at the
 WORKSTATIONnot at the server.  We have done tests indicating radically
 different search
performance between XTs, ATs (both 12 and 16 MHz) and 386s.  This one factor
may be the greatest single factor in ensuring patron satisfaction.  The novelty
of patron 'self-searching' of CD-ROM databases wears off fairly quickly.  Fast
performance becomes ever more important since patrons quickly tire of waiting
for system response.

2.  Certain capabilities inherent in 386 and better chips (such as advanced
memory management, etc.) are becoming ever more important due to performance
enhancing features of the search software programs themselves, the large
required free memory space and the increasing use of Windows compatible
search software.

For example, with the virus software that we load, redirectors, LAN drivers,
etc., you can easily be left with much less than 500K on a 640K PC/XT.  DOS
5.0 and 4.01, in this case, can exacerbate the problem since the kernal is
larger and you cannot make use of DOS 5.0's memory management tricks to
free conventional memory.  It is vital to have the capabilities of the 386,
486, or even the limited capabilities of the 286, to make things run better,
or in some cases, the enable applications to run at all.

3.  Graphics capabilities (including color) can be very valuable at the
CD-ROM workstation.  Information is highlighted and delineated through
color.  Color provides a more attractive display for the patron.  More
applications require graphics capabilities.  Sorry, but CGA just doesn't
do it.  The standard is not usable with many graphics applications and
text generally is very painful to read for any length of time.  If you
have to economize, straight monochrome is preferable due to text quality.

VGA (and SVGA, for that matter) have come down in price to the point where
there really is very little reason to forego the advantages of this
technology simply for reasons of cost.

All of the above is not to say that IF YOU REALLY HAVE TO, that you cannot
make do with slow equipment.  If you cannot afford better, you do what you
have to do.  However, if you have any choice in the matter, the WORKSTATION
IS NOT THE PLACE TO ECONOMIZE.

Our minimum new workstation configuration is an 80386SX/20-25MHz PC with
4 megabytes of RAM, and Super VGA color display (public access workstations).
We install 5.25" and 3.5" floppy drives, but do not install hard disks for
reasons of security.  This configuration combines low cost with fairly good
performance.  Our options are also open for the future in terms of Windows,
and we have flexibility in terms of memory management.

In our installation, we also have a number of 80286/12 MHz-based diskless
workstations.  These machines have 2 meg of RAM installed, along with
color VGA.  The performance of these machines is quite good.  Two factors
would prevent us from adding '286s (regardless of low cost): The chip is
at the very end of its life cycle; '386SX-based machines are almost as
inexpensive.

Arne J. Almquist
Assistant to the Director, Networking and Microcomputer Resources
University of N. Texas--Libraries
P.O. Box 5188
Denton, TX  76203-0188

ph. 817/565-3024
Bitnet: FB23@UNTVAX
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU