CompuServe Thread

OpenGL is the open architecture 3D graphics API (aplications programming interface) being championed by Silicon Graphics. Microsoft is adopting it as the 3D API for Windows NT. Since OpenGL is almost the same thing as SGI's original GL for their Silicon Graphics workstations, it won't take much effort to get those neato SGI apps up and running on NT with OpenGL. So it very likely that at least some of the SGI-only software (Wavefront, SoftImage, etc.) will be ported to the Intel/NT platform. The Matrox MGA is a new graphics board. It supports up to 3MB VRAM, with 1024x768x24bit, 1280x1024x16bit and 1600x1200x8bit color. The most significant thing about it is that the top of the line versions ($1300) will have hardware Z-buffers and hardware support for Garroud shading. Matrox boasts that a fast PC with such a graphics board can do 3D rendering in realtime. What this means is that instead of editing in wirefram mode, you'll be able to edit in 3d shaded mode. Also, Matrox says they will have OpenGL drivers for this board. So, in the near future, with the P5, MGA, and OpenGL, you'll be able to run SGI workstation software at SGI workstation speed. Bailey