From: jackie@yuma.acns.colostate.edu (Jackie Hunt)
Subject: Re:  DeskView/X, PC <> Banyan <> Sun
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 17:53:08 GMT
Organization: Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO  80523

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:

> From: binegar@math.okstate.edu (Binegar Birne)
> Newsgroups: comp.windows.x
> Subject: DV/X; the real deal
> Summary: DV/X Bad News Good News
> Date: 27 Jul 92 21:52:56 GMT
> Organization: Oklahoma State University, Math Department
> 
> Oh, 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

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
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