Engaging Interface, Color Video Camera and Compelling Digital Media
Tools Shatter the Conventions of Personal Computing
Silicon Graphics, Inc. today unveiled Indy*, a desktop system that shatters the conventions of personal computing by coupling its own digital color video camera, an engaging user environment and a host of digital media capabilities with the same advanced 3D graphics, imaging and compute performance that the world has come to expect from Silicon Graphics. The Indy system packs more interactive media, visual computing and workgroup collaboration capabilities into a PC-priced desktop system than any other computer in history.
By designing its coveted, leading-edge interactive media technology into a captivating system that costs less than many high-end PCs and Macintosh* systems, Silicon Graphics has liberated personal computing from the shackles of traditional desktop technology," said Edward R. McCracken, president and CEO of Silicon Graphics. "From this day forward, desktop computer makers must re-evaluate the way they design, package and price their products. The Indy system will inspire dramatic change in what users expect from their computers, allowing them to create, capture and communicate their ideas like never before.Indy ushers Silicon Graphics' Indigo* family of desktop systems to a new level of visual computing that combines world-class compute performance, real-time video, interactive graphics, powerful imaging and professional-quality audio capabilies in accessible, user- friendly packages. In addition to new Indy configurations, the Indigo family includes the original IRIS Indigo* RISC PC and the Indigo2* line of power desktop workstations. The Indy system integrates the industry's most advanced CPU, graphics and digital media technologies with leading-edge applications to provide solutions for performance-driven users in technical and creative computing environments. Indy also is binary compatible with Silicon Graphics' full line of workstations, servers and supercomputers, including the Onyx* family of graphics supercomputers and the Challenge* family of network resource servers. In addition, the new system is capable of running PC and Macintosh applications through emulation, by sharing removable media or by co-existing in Novell and AppleTalk* networks.
Indy further delivers on Silicon Graphics' commitment to provide systems that revolutionize the process of creative work," said Michael Ramsay, senior vice president of Silicon Graphics' Visual Systems Group. "Along with our new additions to the powerful Indigo2 family, Indy allows users to create and innovate in ways that simply aren't possible with other desktop systems. Our ability to bring visual computing to more people enables users to access technologies that will define personal computing in years to come--and in a package that is half the size of the average PC.Based on the MIPS* R4000* 64-bit RISC microprocessor and housed in a compact chassis that sits under the monitor, the Indy system delivers system performance of up to 58.5 SPECint92 and 61 SPECfp92. The system supports up to 256MB of RAM, 2GB of internal disk storage and seven fast SCSI-2 devices. Its highly integrated architecture gives users access to professional-quality digital media tools, an engaging new user environment, the world's fastest 2D and dramatically affordable 3D graphics performance, wide throughput capabilities, a variety of expansion options and leading-edge software applications.
The Indy system continues Silicon Graphics' leadership in digital media by integrating a vast array of professional-quality audio/video capabilities in a PC-priced package. The system is the only computer to come standard with a color digital video camera, IndyCam*, which Silicon Graphics developed with Teleview Research of Palo Alto, California. The IndyCam can mount on top of the color monitor or be moved to capture video and still images throughout the user's environment. The system also features front-panel audio volume adjust buttons, a digital video port, composite and S-video inputs, an analog microphone, six-channel digital audio processing and Photo CD support. Highly integrated analog and digital video enables random access editing, video mail and desktop conferencing.
Using Silicon Graphics' bundled suite of digital media software tools, users can capture full-resolution, full-frame video to disk memory, randomly edit on-line video files, and capture and store still video images. Also with the standard Indy system, users can record and edit two-channel digital audio tracks. With the optional Indy Video* add-in card, along with a full selection of third-party software and hardware products, Indy users have access to a complete and affordable desktop video production environment.
The first media user interface which brings the ease of use of Macintosh and PC systems to Silicon Graphics computers--while maintaining the power of RISC workstations--also is part of the Indy desktop system. First available on the Indy platform and soon on all Silicon Graphics systems, the Indigo Magic* user environment is the most advanced icon-based user interface available. The new environment features simplified system management, enterprise-wide search and find capabilities, access to peripherals from the desktop and Macintosh and PC connectivity. Indigo Magic allows users to customize their individual environments, allowing them to configure an assortment of desktops, each of which can be reduced and stored as an icon. Other features of the new interface are simple, point-and-click software installation and printing that involves merely dragging and dropping a file onto the printer icon. The new user environment includes a free CD featuring interactive computer games developed exclusively for Silicon Graphics systems.
The Indy system supports more than 1,300 applications from leading
software developers whose products are used in technical and
creative applications environments, including architecture,
CAD/CAM, CASE, chemistry, database management, film and video
production, geographic information sciences, photo retouching,
technical publishing and training. Many software providers create
packages specifically to take advantage of Silicon Graphics'
advanced graphics and applications throughput capabilities. Optional
software solutions provide Macintosh and Microsoft Windows*
emulation capabilities with performance equal to or better than the
most popular PC and Macintosh configurations.
