SGI might go away...

[Erik Olson]

These guys were true innovators - hope they find their way out.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/02/11/BUGSMH6KGB1.DTL

[kai]

Yeah they started trading as a penny stock a few months ago when they were dropped off the exchange. Discreet (autodesk) has been in a full force transition to linux on most of their high end product line (flame, smoke, etc), to avoid going down with the ship (sgi).

Sad, really.

[Greggl]

I've still got a few boxes around and Illusion is by far my compositing platform of choice.
A sad state of affairs indeed...

[Bruce Morgan]

yes ..I own the old hardware and use it for back burner projects elegant stuff sgi work stations ,visual worksations (PC) and origan 200 servers ..
I believe someone will ressurect the burning Phoenix

[Rich Lee]

oh well.

sgi had its time.

[Bruce Morgan]

sgi is back !!!!!
i called mountain view hq and got some emails back .
They are into recon imaging and medical But still provide Very high speed storeage for entertainment companys .
i talked to one Linux systems admin when i said sgi? is going bye bye ?
He said "they been there before"

[rook]

oh well.

sgi had its time.


Rich, I figured you'd be more sympathetic. Have the years at a work station hardened you?

-rook

[Greggl]

Hehe... I just got a new Octane2 for less than my mic shockmount :)

[Rich Lee]

Rich, I figured you'd be more sympathetic. Have the years at a work station hardened you?

-rook

its just a computer...sgi's are before my time anyway. it is funny how people would get attached to those things...there used to be a bunch of 02's and green sgi's in the office...the guy who ran the joint just wouldnt get rid of them...i think he put them in storage...

[Bruce Morgan]

speaking technical as well as pro sgi
i just heard from someone who worked with sgi equipment this site a month ago
he metioned the crossbar on the octane and although it is old mipps arch it "blasts hi def images instantly from its crossbar archtecture
realisticly
does this help the artist ease his time waiting for renders so he or she can create the desired effect /
I invested in several octanes and o2 s and I have a plan to link the resulting data via a origin 200 server and samba back to --
ultimatly my modern pc linux cluster .
there were several interesting issues pointout about Matador and liberty paint
and how these were fine programs for large print output .
also mentioned was the the undesireable "banding which you se in modern software output when going to prints larger than 8 by `10 ....



l
I think these sgi workstations were serious business and if all you need for some private projects is some great render workstaions
And
if you can transferr the finished data by means of the above mention methods .
then Just Maybe they have a new use for us independant filmmakers
additional there is a great guy in Britan who adives people on reviving the octane systems and the origin servers .
He is kind of like the Roman Standard Bearer of the Forgotten Roman Legion (in this case irix 6.5 and mipps archtecture )._
also irix 6.5 is OPEN SOURCE in the latest version and a whole world of software has opened up for these workstations
That is why the bids on ebay are so brisk .
Any objections or exceptions to my intended use of the old sgi workstations is well invited
i am still learning and among computer oriented filmakers I am the least among my brothers and sisters .
Cheers and Beers to all who try out an sgi workstation and all advice on the above is welcome.

Look up the comments on my thread about" sgi in the brave new world "this one man who worked for silicon grail was there at the glory days of the sgi era ..he knows a bunch
"
Broast
Bruce

[Bruce Morgan]

sgi computer can be linked via origin servers(and samba to modern(linux based) pc workstations .....
the latest irix 6.5 update is open source many programs available .
the octanes have a very fast Blast presentation of hi def imageswhich has to help render time .
some of the paint programs from days gone by may out preform the modern stuff
any thoughts on this set up are well appreciated .
sgi octanes for render > origine servers >data transferr via samba > to pc linux based with appropriate recieving software for render on "modern pc systems "
all thoughts are welcome
Cheers
Bruce

[Greggl]

Irix 6.5 is decidedly not open source. 6.6.29 still requires a $600 maintainance
contract. One must also aquire the base install cds for 6.5 which run around
$200 on ebay. The 6.5.22 maintainance overlay can then be installed over the
top of a previous, older 6.5 OS install.

Software is also a big issue. You have no real quicktime as it stalled out as of
V3. Photoshop is frozen at V3, now 5+ revisions back. At least 80% of the
SGI software apps are dead and no new licenses are available. Remember that
most SGI software is key'd to the hardware. So even if you get a newer, faster
machine, you cant easily transfer the software.

Support is non-existant, the freeware and open source apps are still very
basic, silly when compared to the power and finesse of even a random, PC/MAC
off-the-shelf app.

For some of us, however, SGI can still make sense in a few areas. I've had an
SGI on my desk since the early 90s and still heavily rely on a few apps or
tricks that I've picked up over the years. Matador does still have some uses
and I still bemoan the demise of Avid Illusion. Flint/Flame/Inferno are also
tops with nothing that even comes close to a functioning flame suite.

[Bruce Morgan]

this is the kind of reminder I was hoping for and
I would like to know more about "makes ense to us in a few areas "
Can you elaborate ..Id appreciate it..
also
"I still rely on a few apps and tricks "
again would love to hear about rthis
My goal is to render 3d models in lightwave 5
and in blender and either Print them out for aniamtion stand work
or string the frames together in the for of a "film Clip"
Thanks for you remarks It does help
Cheers
Bruce

[Greggl]

Its 'legacy' apps that keep some of us on irix. If you're not using an
app that is only available for sgis, then dont use em.

You'll be MUCH better served with a MAC or PC. There are no usable
editing packages for the SGI that clost less than a new car. Get
a mac/pc, lightwave and send your rendered/edited frames to be
output to film.

[Bruce Morgan]

thanks
Cheers
Bruce