From chemistry-request(+ at +)ccl.net Fri Mar 20 11:58:40 1992
Date: Fri, 20 Mar 92 08:46:09 CST
From: ssidner "-at-" unmc.EDU (Steve Sidner)
Subject: Re: PC as a graphics terminal
To: chemistry ":at:" ccl.net
Status: R

A word of caution to computational chemists planning to use a PC as an
X terminal:

Unless I'm mistaken, none of the current PC X servers support PEX
(PHIGS extensions to X) that allow an X server (on the PC) to support
3D graphics.  To achieve this you need a workstation, such as a Silicon
Graphics Indigo, or a Sun IPC with PEX software.  Some X terminals
might also do PEX; I don't know.

Some modeling packages support a 2D display on plain X, such as the
forthcoming release of Sybyl.  This might work okay - I haven't seen it
yet.  But if you want to twirl molecules, especially large ones, you're
going to want PEX.

Now, plain X is great for everything else.  Especially if you want to
run "command line" programs such as MM2 or AMBER, but you want the
flexible, windowed environment exported by the workstation host.
However, on a PC running MS Windows, multiple telnet sessions from
multiple windows might be your preferred environment.

PC X server vendors, in their quest for the eternal upgrade and
resultant revenue stream, will undoubtedly offer PEX sooner or later.
'Course by the time you buy a 486/33, with 8 - 16 MB RAM, accelerated
1200x1200 graphics on a 17" monitor, a network card, and adequate disk,
you'll have the price of a workstation.  At least with a PC you can run
Leisure Suit Larry, which you can't do a workstation - a somewhat
dubious distinction.

	Steve Sidner
	University of Nebraska Medical Center
	Omaha, NE, USA