From: engboksh@nuscc.nus.sg (BOK SHUNG HWEE (MR))
Subject: Re: Intergraph as a better software company
Organization: National University of Singapore
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL4
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 01:34:31 GMT

ken@point.b17d.ingr.com (Ken Poore) writes:
: engboksh@nuscc.nus.sg (BOK SHUNG HWEE (MR)) writes:
: 
: 
: >Hello everyone
: 
: >I am putting up this subject as a matter of interest for all who have
: >respect for Intergraph CAD/CAM software and who wish to see its commercial
: >availability on other machines.  I am currently referring to the
: >mechanical I/EMS based family as well as Microstation and
: >Microstation-based packages.  To my best knowledge both systems are good
: >technologically (EMS was probably *THE* first object-oriented CAD package
: >back in 1987).
: 
: >In other not to be seen as over-flaming, I would say that currently users
: >have difficulty embracing the price/performance of Intergraph's Clipper
: >platforms as UNIX-based machines not just for CAD/CAM alone.  It may be
: >that Intergraph's applications are well tuned to the Clipper and can
: >perform equitably compared to other packages on other machines.  (We will
: >never really know about such comparisons anyway).
: 
: >Without further ado, perhaps interested readers may like to help generate
: >a more detailed discussion on this subject.
: 
: >> Are you aware of the announcements made by Intergraph at Autofact in
  >> November? : 
: >> There Intergraph announced porting NT to the Clipper Platform as well
: >> as porting MDEM products (including I/EMS) to the DEC Alpha running NT.
: 
  Actually I heard about the SGI port and I think also the Alpha port.  I
didn't know about the NT port.  Well here is what I have to say.  Like
many users I am anticipating NT but NT has been delayed time and again. 
According to current status, it is unlikely that NT will even be ready
before Q3 '93 (This is according to software vendors who have to work with
advanced versions of NT and found that it is still unstable).  By the time
NT is ported to other platforms and product marketing and pricing details
are decided upon, it may be another quarter away ;-).

About Alpha, well let us just say that it is the only card DEC has left to
play.  I wish them the best but I cannot wait forever to decide on a purchase.

How about this : why not UNIX or even OSF/UNIX that DEC is working on on
the Alpha, and why not a full HP port ?  You see, UNIX is still around. 
HP has had for something like 24 months now the proven leading
price/performance machines now.  SPARC 10 is still not just yet.  At least
of Alpha is out by Q2, OSF/UNIX should also be out because DEC engineers
are working real hard on it.

To be honest, I have been kept waiting since Q2 last year about the
marketing and pricing of MDEM products on even the SPARC II.  Jesus, why
so long or is it really because MDEM products on SPARC II are prioritised
for the NAVSEA project only.

Well I guessed I sounded like I was flaming but I am trying to factual and
accurate.  Correct me (i.e. anyone) if I am wrong.


: >> Also, all of Intergraph's engineering and mapping GIS software will 
: >> be ported to Windows NT, including, of course, MicroStation.
: 
: >Shung-Hwee Bok (again)
: >CAD/CAM Specialist
: >National University of Singapore
: 
: >P.S.  This may be more related to general CAD discussion.  I haven't
: >cross-posted as yet anyway.
: --
: |Ken Poore              | Technical Information Management Marketing 
: |ken@point.b30.ingr.com | Senior System Engineer/Benchmarks, Demos & Prototypes 
: |..!ingr!b30!point!ken  | Intergraph Corporation, Huntsville, Alabama 
: * All opinions are mine and do not represent Intergraph or its subsidiaries  *