rehash of X-windows and 3b1/7300's

[steven.mikes]

> Ok, I remember at one point in the past the statement "X windows won't
> happen on a 3b1/7300" being made.
> Why?  I've just read some stuff on X-Windows, and it seems the whole
> point of X-Windows is that you can make it work on a C64, if you try
> hard enough. :-).  Seriously, tho, what's stopping a port to the 3b1?
> -- 
Eric,

I speak not for AT&T, but only for myself.  There was, once upon a time
in a Bell Labs far, far away, an X10 server for the PC7300.  No, I don't
know where or when, but I did hear tell of such a critter.  Some say it
was developed in either Murray Hill or Summit.

The only obstacles in the path of development of an X11 based server for the
3B1 are mainly two things:

First, who is going to do it?  To my knowledge, AT&T has officially stopped
public support of the machine and its associated software.  (In fact, the
only sources I know of that still provide [new] software are VAR's.)  So
it is unlikely that either AT&T or Convergent will ever supply an X server.

Second, although it is possible to have both clients and server in the same
machine, the power of X really comes through when the host system is part of
a network.  The network protocols supported [today] are primarily limited to
either TCP/IP or DECnet based networks.  I am not aware of an Ethernet board
that is commercially available for the 3B1, although I understand that at one
time there were such boards available.  (At least this is what I have heard
from various sources [other than AT&T] and is also indicated as being the
case in the PC 7300's Maint. Manual.)

The most likely source of an X server for the 3B1 (if there ever is one) will
be from some hacker out there interested and determined enough to develop one.
I for one would like very much to see it developed.

Well, I didn't mean to pop your balloon, but that's life in the big city!

Steve

[ Opinions expressed in this posting are those of the author; they are not
  reflective of any organization, company or individual.  In no way do any
  of my statements represent AT&T, officially or unofficially.]