From: mark@taylor.uucp (Mark A. Davis) Subject: Re: X terminals: Suggestion for projects like SLS, MCC, etc. Date: Mon, 14 Jun 1993 12:36:19 GMT
hasty@netcom.com (Amancio Hasty Jr) writes:
>In article <1993Jun13.163409.896@taylor.uucp> mark@taylor.uucp (Mark A. Davis) writes:
>>byron@cc.gatech.edu (Byron A Jeff) writes:
>>
>>>I think the question here is where is the breakpoint? Considering
>>>this diskless animal (prices approximate):
>>
>>>- 40Mhz 386 with 64K cache - $150
>>>- 16 Meg memory - $450
>>>- SVGA card (ET4000) - $100
>>>- monitor SVGA .28DP NI - $300
>>>- Ethernet adapter - $ 75
>>>- Case, PS, KB - $100
>>
>>>Total $1175
>>
>>>The question is the performance acceptable? Remember we're comparing to
>>>low end color Xterminals starting at $3000 (that's what someone else
>>>in this thread quoted). Comparing $1200 to it looks very attractive.
>>>Again my question is the performance acceptable?
>>
>>No, that is not the only question. You left off ease of use, ease of
>>administration, reliability, etc... Besides, you are quoting rock-bottom
>Just take the cards in and out if that is hard ....
>None of my "cloned components have died so far in about 1.5 years.
There is a lot more to configuring a Clone with Unix than just inserting and
removing cards. And as far as reliability, that hasn't been my experience :(
>>clone stuff with questionable warranty, etc. Look at the monitor and card
>About 3 years ago I bought a cloned 386sx 16mhz blew the power supply so
>I took the system back to Greenleaf and explained the problem to them.
>They took my machine in and in less than 1/2 hour replaced my power supply.
Then you did not put together a rock-bottom priced clone from different
parts as you wanted to use as a comparison.
>>you quoted: low resolution, flicker, poor performance. Those are the kind
>My answer to your statement is :
> - S3 801 - $150 to $170
> a none interlace monitor capable of running at 65Mhz cost around $330.
If you can get good enough resolution at non-interlaced for $330, more power
to you. When last I checked a 1024x768 monitor at non-interlaced was well
over $600.
>>
>>The performance of the above setup (under X) will be twice as slow as the
>>cheapest X terminal I could find ($875) (+$400 one-time for server).
>Don't forget your host computer ;->
I haven't! I do have a fast host, and this is necessary....
>and if you run the PC X server in mono it will probably match your X terminal.
It probably will. But will still not cost $875 AND be preconfigured, etc....
>>Besides, nothing like taking a terminal out of a box, plug it in, configure
>>in 70 seconds, and start using it...
>The same task can probably be accomplished with a diskless 386bsd kernel and
>be able to run applications on your machine as well as on the host computer.
>As for remote management you can use snmp and tk with snmp extensions to
>build in hours or less applications to manage your snmp boxes.
Granted, but you are not counting the countless hours to initially set all
that up. Not something most would want (or be able) to do :)
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