Need Info: GIS Packages

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2 total messages Started by Vannevar Y. Yu Fri, 10 Nov 1989 07:19

#250

Author: Vannevar Y. Yu
Date: Fri, 10 Nov 1989 07:19

19 lines
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We are planning to implement a GIS application based on TIGER/line data
(and possibly dBASE file?) on a pc-386 platform for non-profit public
sector use, and would like any information, product or experience,
positive or negative, on available options and mapping packages.

As of now, we are considering either the Compaq 386/25 or the
IBM PS/2 Model 80 as base hardware; we're looking into MapInfo and
GisPlus software packages.  Being a non-profit endeavor, cost is one of the
key contraints, and any comments you may have will help us avoid
unanticipated problems.

Thanks.
                                         *
Vannevar Yu
Carnegie Mellon University
School of Urban and Public Affairs
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

vy10+@andrew.cmu.edu / vy10@andrew.BITNET

Re: Need Info: GIS Packages

#251

Author: Pete Holzmann
Date: Fri, 10 Nov 1989 14:32

47 lines
3107 bytes

vy10+@andrew.cmu.edu (Vannevar Y. Yu) writes:
>We are planning to implement a GIS application based on TIGER/line data
>(and possibly dBASE file?) on a pc-386 platform for non-profit public
>sector use, and would like any information, product or experience,
>positive or negative, on available options and mapping packages.
>
>As of now, we are considering either the Compaq 386/25 or the
>IBM PS/2 Model 80 as base hardware; we're looking into MapInfo and
>GisPlus software packages.  Being a non-profit endeavor, cost is one of the
>key contraints, and any comments you may have will help us avoid
>unanticipated problems.

I have a few comments:

(1) I'd strongly suggest you watch Strategic Mapping for an announcement
soon. If you can wait a few months to purchase the GIS software, I think
you'll find their new product to be much better than the rest (am I biased?
Well, I *have* been working on it for a year now! :-)). They are extremely
cooperative about good deals for educational/non-profit use as well.

(2) TIGER files are big. No, they're ENORMOUS! Perhaps even more important
than a few extra MHz in your CPU is: (a) A good, fast, hard disk system. At
least 1:1 RLL; fast ESDI or SCSI preferred. (A nice new choice: Micropolis
1684-7 300MB 1/2ht 14ms SCSI at $1650 + Adaptec 1542A SCSI controller at
$275 gets you 1.5MB/sec real throughput!)... (b) Get plenty of RAM; use
it for EMS and a nice disk cache.

(3) GisPlus looks to be a pretty good product. MapInfo is a LOT of talk and
very little on the delivery end. Yes, they do a few things nicely, but in
the long run, most people are disappointed, to put it mildly! [One example-
they recently announced complete networking support. To them, this means
that multiple users can *read* a GIS file simultaneously.]

Pete

(For mapping-related questions, you can reach me as slp!pete@octopus.com,
    for now)

Peter Holzmann, Octopus Enterprises   |(if you're a techie Christian & are
19611 La Mar Ct., Cupertino, CA 95014 |interested in helping w/ the Great
UUCP: {hpda,pyramid}!octopus!pete     |Commission, email dsa-contact@octopus)
DSA office ans mach=408/996-7746;Work (SMI) voice=408/985-7400,FAX=408/985-0859
-- 
Peter Holzmann, Octopus Enterprises   |(if you're a techie Christian & are
19611 La Mar Ct., Cupertino, CA 95014 |interested in helping w/ the Great
UUCP: {hpda,pyramid}!octopus!pete     |Commission, email dsa-contact@octopus)
DSA office ans mach=408/996-7746;Work (SLP) voice=408/985-7400,FAX=408/985-0859

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