Hello- As a user of InterMapper for 1-2 years, I would like to note that Windows/Linux versions are a welcome addition to Macintosh, if only that hardware that can run Windows (and Linux) is cheaper, in general, than Macintosh hardware (although InterMapper's footprint is such that it requires *much* less hardware than programs of comparable functionality!)
>From a programming perspective, I could see the dual-platform challenge being to maintain a common feature set and code base between platforms. Aspects of the Windows and Mac GUI's and inputs are significantly different. There are programs that exploit these differences pretty well: Timbuktu Pro by Netopia comes to mind. For mouse input, they are able to translate Command-Clicks on a Macintosh into right-clicks on a PC, and Ctrl-Clicks on a PC into Command-clicks on a Macintosh. They've run into problems with PC and Mac versions that are too far apart to be truly cross-platform in our experience. On the video side, both PC's and Macs use similar video hardware now anyway, so that's not an issue. It would seem that, for the present, InterMapper for Windows is running as a GUI on top of a JRE (Java Runtime Environment). Or, if one uses InterMapper Remote, then a service (or daemon) runs under Windows (or Linux), and the Remote program gives the same look and feel regardless of platform. (I might be getting this wrong, but my test of InterMapper for Windows used jrew.exe in the background and it consumed 70% of my CPU on a Pentium IV.) Unfortunately, the Remote and JRE's I've tested are all very CPU intensive, to the point that I can't use a station running InterMapper Remote or InterMapper for Windows for much else. Granted, I was testing it with my full map of 258 devices and lots of links. So, to me the biggest challenge of cross-platform is overcoming the CPU overhead associated with JRE's. Optivity by Nortel Networks is completely written in Java, but is running faster (however it has other anomalies like it can't picture my whole network without missing some links - InterMapper never has that problem!) Just my 2 euros. :) Thanks, Mark - Mark C. Persiko, IT Division - Boulder Valley School District - [EMAIL PROTECTED] -----Original Message----- From: Manny Gonzalez [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Tuesday, January 28, 2003 1:40 PM To: InterMapper Discussion Subject: Re: Welcome to the real world... too bad Here we go again! Wow! It never ceases to amaze me. How about a little respect? A little respect for Rich Brown and his team? They have been good coders right up to now, they will probably have a good product for windows too. I am not claiming to love Microsoft, but it clearly is not the fault of Microsoft that some software just sucks. The OS is fine until bad code gets install on it. I can tell you there are PLENTY of things that do not work nicely in a MAC even on OS-X ... At it does crash, and some of the interface stuff is not as great as some people think and the mouse still has only one button... etc. etc. So please, let's not go down this road! And guess what? When was the last time ANYTHING was not done for money? Money makes the world go round. I love Windows and I like Mac OS-X ... but to make blanket statements like you are making is simply insulting. You make it sound as if Intermapper has been bug free, development free since version 001 Alpha :-) Let's get back to business.... Dartware, I welcome the Windows version and the Linux version. Good luck and I hope you make TONS OF MONEY doing it. You deserve it. _________________________________________________________ Manny Gonzalez ............................... CCIE# 9013 Sr. Network Analyst ..................... NY Presbyterian _________________________________________________________ Konowal, Ed wrote: > I just saw it. InterMapper available for Windows. > > Recall back in 2000 when you (Bill Fisher, Rich Brown and Dartmouth College) > decided to "spin InterMapper out as a separate company"? My stated concern > at that time was that you'd loose focus on the Mac and divert resources to > develop a Windows version. > > I expected it. I HATE it, but I expected it. What's next? Sell the > program to Microsoft? It's all about profit now. > > I understand... I'm just so disappointed to actually see the first steps, of > this fantastic program, now headed toward mediocrity. > > A very, very sad day. > > Ed Konowal > Systems Analyst > Lee County School District > > ____________________________________________________________________ > Note: To unsubscribe from this mailing list, please send email to: > <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Thanks! -- ____________________________________________________________________ Note: To unsubscribe from this mailing list, please send email to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Thanks! ____________________________________________________________________ Note: To unsubscribe from this mailing list, please send email to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Thanks!
