#New Amiga from SGI!
Something wonderful has happened this last week folks. Something so
wonderful that I doubt most of the major media will pick up it other than
as a token event. See how jaded I feel about the computer press?
Folks, this last week Silicon Graphics introduced what I believe to be the
high-end Amiga, high-end PC, and certainly high-end Macintosh killer if
you are into desktop video and multimedia.
This box is called the Indy. It has a 64 bit arcitecture, 100Mhz CPU
based on the MIPS processor, 8-Bit Graphics (similiar to AGA), upgradeable
to 24 bit. 16MB of RAM (uses SIMM modules), SCSI-2, Stereo In, Stereo
Out, Video In from three sources, ability to record video directly to disk
and play it back at 30fps in S-Video, NTSC, or even HDTV with an optional
board for output. (It will display these videos in real time on the
monitor w/o output video board). It comes standard with a SGI's UNIX
product with a GUI that claims that everything can be done from the GUI,
including nasty things like configuring a TCP/IP network. Bundled
software includes a sound editor, ShowMan (SCALA-like product) and other
operating system tools. The system also comes complete with a digital
video camera that can be used for network teleconferencing. The video
that is brought in can be digitally edited as well.
How much? How does $4995 List strike you? You will have to add a disk
drive, and 16MB of RAM may be a bit on the thin side. Just to give you an
idea of what a 1.2GB HP SCSI-2 (3.5 Inch) drive goes for, it is less than
$2100. SGI recmmends a minimum of 384MB.
Who is developing for this box so far? ASDG and the Blue Ribbon
Soundworks. I suspect to see more high-end Amiga software companies leap
to this machine. The one downside the SGI box has is the cost of the
current line of software. However, as this machine reaches the masses the
cost of software is likely to drop like a rock.
Amiga Developer–you don't gotta wait for AAA or Commodore to get their
collective act together. If you have a graphics product, the Indy needs
you!
Friends, SGI just got real serious.
Are we, the loyal Amiga dealer going to pick it up? Uh, will Bill Clinton
raise taxes? 🙂
Only Amiga makes it possible indeed.
-mark=
Otto Pilot Engaged..