Re: PC as a graphics terminal

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