From: bobp@hal.com (Bob Pendelton)
Subject: Re: Questions about quality of VR images and technology, generally
Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1992 22:28:49 GMT
Organization: HaL Computer Systems, Inc.



>From article <1992Jan24.171617.13118@milton.u.washington.edu>, by 
70322.1065@CompuServe.COM (Daniel G Mintz):

> Any comments on my specific example, on my general supposition
>[regarding SGI overtaking E&S in the simulation business]?

Yeah, you are right. But your example is wrong.

Both SGI and E&S use massive amounts of special purpose hardware to
get good rendering speeds. E&S tends to use lots and lots of general
purpose processors driving special purpose rendering hardware. SGI
tends to use many specialized processors driven by a small number of
general purpose processors.

As the performance of general purpose processors increases the level
of graphics functionality available from general purpose machines goes
up and the bottom end of both the E&S and SGI market gets eaten away.
On the other hand, the processing needs of graphics applications seems
to know no bounds.

BTW, when compared to existing DSP chips the R4000 is not particularly
interesting for high end graphic rendering applications. On the other
hand, the R4000 IS interesting as a machine to feed high end
renderers. It isn't that hard to spec a renderer that can eat commands
faster than any existing processor can feed it.

I expect that you will see E&S making bolder moves to get into the
general market. Rumors, rumors everywhere...

			Bob P.
P.S.

I used to work for E&S, so my opinions are biased. 

-- 

| Bob Pendleton              | Engineering Anethema:                     |
| bobp@hal.com               |   1) You've earned an "I told you so."    |
| Speaking only for myself.  |   2) Our customers don't do that.         |