Hello all,
I asked about the possibility of tacking several screens + keyboards onto one
alpha. More or less like building a/several X-term(s) into a workstation (with
local transport instead IP, though). I also asked about if anyone built or
bought a video amplifier for transporting video signals from a computer hall
out to the offices. I also fantasized about transporting the signals going
into the video card fromn the bus (them being digital being easier to handle)
and move the video card out to the screen (keeping the box in the computer
hall).
I got 15 answers most of which told me to get X-terms and all about their
virtues. Maybe I should have been more specific about that that is not a good
solution for us, for various reasons.
I got one answer that hit the head on the nail (I believe you saw it just
yesterday onthis list, but I include it for completeness):
From: skk_at_benelux.pa.dec.com (Stuart Kreitman)
Date: Sun, 18 Feb 1996 23:55:46 -0800 (PST)
Simon:
Before I get into my pitch, let me begin by pointing out that
your needs may best be met with X terminals or other inexpensive displays.
The product described below is most suitable if your performance
requirements outstrip an X terminal's ability to deliver.
On the other hand, my solution gives a great cost savings if you can
redeploy an existing stock of machinery.
I solved these problems as a consultant to DEC for a large military bid.
We called the products SEATS.
SEATS includes software drivers and cabling to extend the
single-user nature of Digital Unix/ DECwindows to multiuser limited
only by the number of slots (6 for a turbochannel system). It uses
Digital-standard hardware for graphics, keyboard, and mouse. To add
a second user, a small pigtail cable ties into the onboard spare serial
ports. For up to 6 users, a Magma 8 port serial card is required.
In the final iteration of SEATS, we redesigned the ZLX turbochannel
graphics controller with a DEC mouse/keyboard port so that our product
would have a consistent, robust, hardware basis.
I spent some amount of personal time and expense marketing this idea,
but found virtually no interest in the marketplace. The turbochannel
window of opportunity is pretty much closed, oh well.
DEC CSS (Custom systems) and GPO (govt program office) were quite pleased
with this product. I believe that if a good sales opportunity came along
they would resurrect it.
Stuart Kreitman
Faster Raster Systems
I got a few indications also of that these video (analogue) amplifiers I wrote
of do exist. No names, but I keep listening.
I'd like to thank these people:
David Gempton <ttcdg_at_cyberspace.co.nz>
anthony baxter <anthony.baxter_at_aaii.oz.au>
alan_at_nabeth.cxo.dec.com (Alan Rollow - Dr. File System's Home for Wayw
John Stoffel <john_at_WPI.EDU>
"James T. McDuffie" <jt_at_mcduffie.net>
pobrien_at_draco.harvard.edu (Patrick O'Brien)
chu_at_musp0.Jpl.Nasa.Gov (Eugene Chu)
skk_at_benelux.pa.dec.com (Stuart Kreitman)
Bertrand Hutin <hb_at_o2tech.fr>
Dave Newbold <phdmn_at_siva.bris.ac.uk>
norman_at_hprc.utoronto.ca (Norman Wilson)
vsp_at_unx.dec.com
Martin Horowitz <mah_at_unx.dec.com>
Ilja Hallberg <hallberg_at_e.kth.se>
Simon Tardell, voice +46 8 162688 fax +46 8 347817
Fysikum, Stockholms universitet simon_at_physto.se, tardell_at_particle.kth.se
Received on Tue Feb 20 1996 - 10:41:02 NZDT