🚀 go-pugleaf

Twelve people responded to my request for information about Xerox
workstations.  Most people didn't indicate which workstation hardware
they are using, so I can't give the rundown somebody asked for, about
how many Altos and Stars are out there.  Several people mentioned that
they used the 1186/6085, and/or the 1108.

*  In general, people who use them for desktop publishing said they were 
   the greatest thing on the market, and people who use(d) them for AI 
   applications think they stink.   There were 2 Lisp developers who said
   they "loved" the Xerox workstations, but the opposition was quite vocal.

*  People who did like the workstations generally liked the development
   environment and complained about lack of speed.

*  One person (who has my sympathy!) had a long list of horror stories 
   about upgrades that never worked, paid-for SW that never arrived, etc.

*  Several people expressed concern that the management doesn't know what 
   it's doing, at least as far as selling and supporting computers

*  Several people mentioned that Xerox is starting to put its software
   on the SPARC, and they thought that was a good idea (sigh...why doesn't
   anybody but ME really like *APOLLOS*!!?!?!)

*  A few Xerox employees wrote to say that Xerox is a good place to work.

*  A couple of people cited "The Xerox Star: A Retrospective", Jeff Johnson et al,
   IEEE Computer, Sept 1989.  That turned out to be a VERY useful article.

Some sample quotes (names withheld, most people didn't want their names
mentioned)

>> Xerox workstations are, as far as I can tell, just about dead.  At least
>> for AI applications; I suppose they still do okay in the word processing
>> market, though I expect Macs are giving them a hard row to hoe there, too.

>>  The system is effortless to
>> use and to learn to use: we have trained ... people to use our Xerox
>> network as their primary office tool in an average of four hours of
>> classroom time each. 

>> In summary, unless you are doing research at PARC or selling copiers, I would
>> suggest a really close look at Xerox, unless you thrive on frustration.  I don't
>> think Xerox wants to sell computers.  All the AI stuff from Envos is going over
>> to Sun platforms now, anyway.  I don't bet on the demand staying around for
>> dedicated word processors either.           

>> A number cruncher she ain't. As a publishing platform it lacks only speed.
>> The software however, is virtually idiot proof.

>> In terms of hardware reliability, they're not so great.
>> But the Xerox Interlisp environment is the best environment in the
>> world, bar none, when it comes to software development.

>>  When putting your AI-glasses the 1186 is
>> called A Lisp-machine, otherwise it is a plain workstation. It has come to
>> age over the years and is no longer performance competitive, though.   


SUMMARY -->  I took the job, and so I soon have a first-hand perspective.

Thanks to all who responded, and especially to those who pointed me toward
the IEEE Computer article, that was really great.

mef
--
WARNING:  Opinions in posting are farther away than they appear.