Letters to the editor 2-2-98Letters to the editor 2-2-98
February 2, 1998
February 2, 1998
Letters to the editor
Readers state their views
Close, but no cigar!
Regarding "The new way to spell is CAD: NT" (11/3/97 issue), while I think Windows/NT is an excellent solution for some companies, I do not think it compares with Unix. I have been evaluating both for the last year. After testing the NT version of Unigraphics on HP and Compaq, I have concluded the following: file retrieval and integer performance on NT is as fast, if not faster, than Unix; NT graphics are not even close; the new HP Kayak with the Visualize Fx4 card is the only NT workstation I found to be close to Unix, (but it is more expensive than a proven Unix workstation). If a company has a small CAD implementation, NT would be a suitable solution.
David Owens
Ingersoll Rand Von Dujprin Division
Wanted: real-world perspective
It's interesting to note the various views on CAD/FEA. FEA users must be aware that software is a tool. Good grasp of engineering fundamentals is vital?the ultimate design/analysis decisions need to be made by an engineer, not the software?Many who write software have good academic experience, but limited industry experience?Journals can complement their existing articles with some based on real-world problems solved by experienced engineers. In fact, it would be a good idea if experienced users share their real-world knowledge through articles?The ivory tower and industry tower should complement each other in the long run. They need each other. These are my own personal views, and not necessarily those of my company.
Bangalore Sureshwara
Astronautics Corp. of America
Meaningful abbreviations
I enjoyed your article, "Phone lines pick up speed" (10/20/97 issue).
First of all, it was very informative, and second, it addressed a pet peeve of mine--the use of abbreviations and acronyms without explanation of their meaning. Not only did you explain what the letters meant within the text, but you also provided us with a glossary?Most of us are too busy to chase after this sort of thing, and when we are working in a discipline in which we are not really trained--which is more and more the case in today's engineering world--we find ourselves confused by cryptic groups of capital letters. Thank you for a most informative, and clearly understood article.
Nicholas F. Maselli
Did we forget about Mazda?
In your October 6 issue, the Acura Integra is praised as having "the highest hp per liter ever offered in North America." I too like the Integra. I bought a '95 Integra, with the standard 142 hp engine for my daughter, and I am impressed with its performance. However, you must have forgotten about the latest Mazda Rx-7. Make the comparison below:
I still have my original '83 Mazda Rx7, which doesn't do too badly with its 1.4 liter, 100 hp, 87 hp/l. Perhaps you should have stated, "piston engines only, rotary engines have unfair advantage."
Integra: 1.8 liters 195 hp 108 hp per liter
Rx7: 1.3 liters 255 hp 194.6 hp per liter
John A. Webster
Bush Hog R&D
Selma, AL
Hits the nail on the head
I want to thank you for the many fine articles that you have printed in 1997. Once again, you have outdone yourself. Your DN100 list was excellent, and Cornelia hit it on the nail when he said: "The Internet is definitely the wave of the future."
Ronnie L. Dunn
Pass & Seymour Legrand
Call them US (UnSafe)Vs, not SUVs
Regarding theDesign News automotive survey ("SUV overpowers traditional cars," October 6, 1997), why would design engineers want to buy unsafe SUVs. An SUV will never be as safe as a passenger vehicle because of the high center of gravity. Compare the roll-over statistics between SUVs and regular passenger vehicles?Your magazine would do a great service to its readers by publishing an article on SUV safety.
Ron Steinbach
A truly personal gun
I enjoyed the "Engineers take command" stories (7/7/97 issue), particularly "Electronics personalize guns." Perhaps Colt could further improve their electronics-controlled gun by designing it to fire in two directions: forward, if the user is authorized to use the gun, and backwards if not. That way, the victim is protected from death and/or injury, and we get rid of the perpetrator by his own hand.
Ken Shearer
Carrier Corp.
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