Silicon Graphics Introduces O2 Desktop Workstations

Ginny Williams

Silicon Graphics recently unveiled its O2 desktop line. These 
workstations offer an integrated approach to 3D imaging, audio and video 
processing, and compression, making them a good choice for CAD modeling, 
scientific visualization, and Web site creation.

Technical Specifications
The O2 desktop family is based on a high-performance Unified Memory 
Architecture (UMA). The new systems ship with either a 64-bit MIPS RISC 
R5000 or R10000 processor.

The O2 features 32-bit, double-buffered graphics. With hardware-
accelerated 3D graphics and texture-mapping features, the O2 line 
delivers real-time, photo-realistic interactivity.
 
The O2 ships with a new version of the company's UNIX-based operating 
system, IRIX 6.3, which is backward compatible. O2s also come bundled 
with Netscape Navigator 3.0, Netscape FastTrack Server 2.0, and Insignia 
SoftWindows. SoftWindows supports a range of applications running under 
Microsoft Windows 3.1 or, optionally, Windows 95.

Web-Friendly User Interface
The O2 graphical user environment integrates Internet and Intranet 
publishing and file transfer capabilities. The file manager lets users 
view a Web site via a split window. The bottom portion displays the Web 
site, while the top portion lists the files that make up its content. 
Users can select these files and drag and drop them onto their desktop, 
or publish them using the Web authoring tools that come bundled with the 
system.
 
The O2 documentation and help system is completely Web-based; it runs 
locally on the user's machine.
 
Ordering from the MCC
The MCC sells O2 workstations by special order. Buyers customize the 
base system at the time the order is placed - configuration choices 
include amount of memory, processor type, hard drive, monitor, and 
optional equipment.
 
SGI also offers solution bundles that include software for specific 
purposes: two examples are the Modeler bundle and the WebFORCE bundle.
 
Retail pricing for O2 base systems ranges from $5,995 to $9,995. The 
MCC price range for these systems is $4,000 to $6,600. For more 
information about O2 workstations, call the MCC at x3-7686. You may also 
want to check out the Silicon Graphics Web site at

http://www.sgi.com