Avid laid off 300 engineers in November to redirect its efforts towards e-commerce
That's rubbish.
a) Avid did not layoff 300 engineers. I don't think any engineers were laid off (it was other people).
b) They are not moving towards 'e-commerce' but have laid plans to do internet content creation (I suspect web/internet video etc.).
What this has to do with SGI, I don't know. The market for viz-sim is not the same as Soft, Avid,Discreet etc. - it's the scientific/engineering end of things.
If you read some of the best reasoned arguments with Bill Joy here, you'll notice many people (like me) who are glad *some* access to source is more freely available.
This isn't the 'argument' though.
The argument is against the PR machine claiming the license is something it isn't.
So far, the debate seems to have generated some very good arguments - pro and anti. You'll note that the 'anti' is aimed mainly at this dishonesty.
now, our community is splintering with announcements like this
Please calm down and have another look. There's almost nothing here that other free unix OS's can't use. Your charges are laughable. There was no implication in this that any code will be non-portable.
No part of this says it will not work on FreeBSD/OpenBSD/AcmeBSD. What's Windows got to do with anything?
Do we really want people like this harming our comminity?
The word 'harming' is ridiculous. In fact, it shows no respect for the many well known developers who are (and have been) writing this software FREE. What is your agenda?
You continually mention the word 'fact'. I propose that you need to be a little more careful doing this because some people want evidence for such assertions.
Boss' demise was more complex than you say - there are still ex-Boss folk around, maybe they'll set you right. One of the biggest runaway costs in the effects industry was (maybe, 'is') employee salaries.
I agree that the 4DWm is quite good. I'm perfectly happy using it. However, on my main SGI at work I run Windowmaker. 'My' other SGI's use 4DWm though.
In my opinion, people sometimes mix up 4DWm (the window manager) with the 'magic' desktop. SGI's desktop environment is quite extensive and 4DWm is just one component of it.
My (tiny) problem with 4DWm is that it's a little too Motif-like for my taste. Lucky there are lots of window managers around now:-)
If there were no copyright problems (surely not?), then there's little reason *not* to open-source 4DWm.
And if/when I see a good 16bit/floating point, paint capabable version of the GIMP, then I'll get really excited. -- stuck at work while everyone else is at SIGGRAPH
People are working on enhancing the Gimp for film work - including 16 bit per component support. This work is coming directly out of the LA effects community. I think information is at ;
Your O2 is safe, at least I see no 'end of life' for it in the foreseeable future. Bug fixes and improvements come with continued IRIX 6.5 releases and I think the hardware can be upgraded to an R12K.
I think SGI already dipped in the PC graphics market years ago - well before anyone else. Unfortunately, I think they were too far ahead of the field at that time. There was little or no PC graphics industry and their openGL PC board was ditched (maybe never really released).
The potential NVidia 'partnership' factor is interesting though.
I think we're all best waiting until next week rather than speculating on what they plan. I'd agree that SGI have made many mistakes - but, hey, hind-sight is 20/20!
I agree with the person who said SGI should extend into the consumer graphics hardware business. I can only imagine how fast Diamond Mm et al. would fall to the might of SGI hardware.
In my opinion, that would be suicide. SGI are not cut out to be 'graphics board' manufacturers. They build complete systems.
You ended with 'Sticks and Stones may break my bones but FUD will never concern me' but are guilty of spreading FUD yourself.
SGI have never announced the death of IRIX/MIPS. As long as MIPS competes, then IRIX will be around. What appears to be in doubt is the port of IRIX to IA64 - but even this is rumour and hearsay.
To a degree, it doesn't make sense to spend LOTS of money porting IRIX to Intel. If they're building Intel systems, it makes business sense to use Linux.
*You* can't build an SGI system. That's the point. You are buying into SGI's expertise (in server-land) for things like fast buses, CC NUMA, scalability etc. This is the future - potentially. If SGI manage to get openGL running accelerated/optimised on their 320/540, that's another reason to prefer an SGI over one of your PC's.
The word 'disaster' is completely wrong. Overall, SGI have a pretty good record in transitioning to new API's. IRIX64 works quite well.
I can believe they're thinking twice about the port to IA64, however.
Re:mental ray is already available for Linux
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SGIs Linux Future
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· Score: 1
Avid Technology own Softimage - purchased from MS last year.
http://www.softimage.com http://www.avid.com
Soft still runs on SGI's and I can't imagine they'll move to NT alone anytime soon. Too many BIG Softimage companies want the unix version.
Re:What about SGI traditional software?
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SGIs Linux Future
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· Score: 1
Houdini is being ported to linux - it is a 'high-end' 3D product.
http://www.sidefx.com http://www.sidefx.com/news_events/press_linux.ht ml http://www.sidefx.com/news_events/sig99/
Same with the rendering software 'Mental Ray' ;
http://www.mentalimages.com
Blender is supposed good as well ;
http://www.blender.nl
Sidefx must be looking forward to getting their hands on a VW that can drive graphics/video under Linux. I would expect that this might put a bit of pressure on Alias/Wavefront - they're part of SGI after all. I see little reason not to port to Linux if the hardware is ready. SGI appear to be working towards hardware accelerated openGL support, and hopefully video (HD?).
XFS has not been released yet, that's why there's no Linux version. With SGI's backing, XFS could be running happily under Linux within 6 months (from release).
A 'few' years might be about right though - not that long. Remember IA64 is coming.
As for 'ccNUMA', why not? Clever memory management etc.:-)
Scalabilty to 256 processors, a bit longer. 2 years?
Slashdot Mirror
That's rubbish.
a) Avid did not layoff 300 engineers. I don't think any engineers were laid off (it was other people).
b) They are not moving towards 'e-commerce' but have laid plans to do internet content creation (I suspect web/internet video etc.).
What this has to do with SGI, I don't know. The market for viz-sim is not the same as Soft, Avid,Discreet etc. - it's the scientific/engineering end of things.
You've made very good points.
If you read some of the best reasoned arguments with Bill Joy here, you'll notice many people (like me) who are glad *some* access to source is more freely available.
This isn't the 'argument' though.
The argument is against the PR machine claiming the license is something it isn't.
So far, the debate seems to have generated some very good arguments - pro and anti. You'll note that the 'anti' is aimed mainly at this dishonesty.
now, our community is splintering with announcements like this
Please calm down and have another look. There's almost nothing here that other free unix OS's can't use. Your charges are laughable. There was no implication in this that any code will be non-portable.
No part of this says it will not work on FreeBSD/OpenBSD/AcmeBSD. What's Windows got to do with anything?
Do we really want people like this harming our comminity?
The word 'harming' is ridiculous. In fact, it shows no respect for the many well known developers who are (and have been) writing this software FREE. What is your agenda?
You continually mention the word 'fact'. I propose that you need to be a little more careful doing this because some people want evidence for such assertions.
Boss' demise was more complex than you say - there are still ex-Boss folk around, maybe they'll set you right. One of the biggest runaway costs in the effects industry was (maybe, 'is') employee salaries.
Brian,
;-)
Congratulations on the new job - I know Avid Technology will miss you. Thanks for putting so much effort into Mesa.
Both you and all at Precision Insight and SGI deserve a cheer for chasing high-end 3D.
Now, get cracking!
Not a very charitable thing to say.
Money doesn't buy everything.
I agree that the 4DWm is quite good. I'm perfectly happy using it. However, on my main SGI at work I run Windowmaker. 'My' other SGI's use 4DWm though.
:-)
In my opinion, people sometimes mix up 4DWm (the window manager) with the 'magic' desktop. SGI's desktop environment is quite extensive and 4DWm is just one component of it.
My (tiny) problem with 4DWm is that it's a little too Motif-like for my taste. Lucky there are lots of window managers around now
If there were no copyright problems (surely not?), then there's little reason *not* to open-source 4DWm.
The first comment is a bit mean spirited.
SGI are doing GOOD things and choice == freedom.
A bit unfair making such a strong assertion without even trying the software,no?
If SGI have a good debugger, maybe they know what they're doing.
Cheers!
People are working on enhancing the Gimp for film work - including 16 bit per component support. This work is coming directly out of the LA effects community. I think information is at ;
http://film.gimp.org
but I can't connect at the moment ...
Jamie,
Your O2 is safe, at least I see no 'end of life' for it in the foreseeable future. Bug fixes and improvements come with continued IRIX 6.5 releases and I think the hardware can be upgraded to an R12K.
I think SGI already dipped in the PC graphics market years ago - well before anyone else. Unfortunately, I think they were too far ahead of the field at that time. There was little or no PC graphics industry and their openGL PC board was ditched (maybe never really released).
The potential NVidia 'partnership' factor is interesting though.
I think we're all best waiting until next week rather than speculating on what they plan. I'd agree that SGI have made many mistakes - but, hey, hind-sight is 20/20!
In my opinion, that would be suicide. SGI are not cut out to be 'graphics board' manufacturers. They build complete systems.
You ended with 'Sticks and Stones may break my bones but FUD will never concern me' but are guilty of spreading FUD yourself.
SGI have never announced the death of IRIX/MIPS. As long as MIPS competes, then IRIX will be around. What appears to be in doubt is the port of IRIX to IA64 - but even this is rumour and hearsay.
To a degree, it doesn't make sense to spend LOTS of money porting IRIX to Intel. If they're building Intel systems, it makes business sense to use Linux.
STOP SPREADING FUD
I don't know what you mean by that last sentence.
Not only do I want references to the 'forward looking' analysts, but wonder why I'd trust them.
Maybe you work for Sun?
It is open source and well maintained ;
http://www.CSUA.Berkeley.EDU/~gam3/knfsd/
*You* can't build an SGI system. That's the point. You are buying into SGI's expertise (in server-land) for things like fast buses, CC NUMA, scalability etc. This is the future - potentially. If SGI manage to get openGL running accelerated/optimised on their 320/540, that's another reason to prefer an SGI over one of your PC's.
'Diabolical enough'? - No.
'Proprietary'? - some. I'd say that would be the hardware though. Not the software.
SGI really want to sell their hardware, above all. There will be no 'fork', why should there be?
The word 'disaster' is completely wrong. Overall, SGI have a pretty good record in transitioning to new API's. IRIX64 works quite well.
I can believe they're thinking twice about the port to IA64, however.
Avid Technology own Softimage - purchased from MS last year.
http://www.softimage.com
http://www.avid.com
Soft still runs on SGI's and I can't imagine they'll move to NT alone anytime soon. Too many BIG Softimage companies want the unix version.
Houdini is being ported to linux - it is a 'high-end' 3D product.
t ml
http://www.sidefx.com
http://www.sidefx.com/news_events/press_linux.h
http://www.sidefx.com/news_events/sig99/
Same with the rendering software 'Mental Ray' ;
http://www.mentalimages.com
Blender is supposed good as well ;
http://www.blender.nl
Sidefx must be looking forward to getting their hands on a VW that can drive graphics/video under Linux. I would expect that this might put a bit of pressure on Alias/Wavefront - they're part of SGI after all. I see little reason not to port to Linux if the hardware is ready. SGI appear to be working towards hardware accelerated openGL support, and hopefully video (HD?).
Hopefully!
XFS has not been released yet, that's why there's no Linux version. With SGI's backing, XFS could be running happily under Linux within 6 months (from release).
:-)
A 'few' years might be about right though - not that long. Remember IA64 is coming.
As for 'ccNUMA', why not? Clever memory management etc.
Scalabilty to 256 processors, a bit longer. 2 years?