Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!hplabs!hp-pcd!hpcvlx!tomg
From: tomg@hpcvlx.HP.COM (Thomas J. Gilg)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apollo
Subject: Re: HP's new 3D graphics workstation
Message-ID: <101020004@hpcvlx.HP.COM>
Date: 17 Aug 89 17:06:30 GMT
References: <8908112043.AA01139@>
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Co., Corvallis, OR, USA
Lines: 45


> I was thumbing through the June issue of Computer Graphics World
> when I noticed a big glossy ad that HP has out for its
> *new* color 3D graphics workstation. (sorta reminiscent of
> a DN4000 or something, although definitely an HP, NOT Apollo).
> I guess an obvious couple of questions is: 

> (1) seeing as how HP just bought a leader in 3D graphics
> workstations, wouldn't you expect that the A-word would have been
> used somewhere in the new advertising campaign?

While Apollo is indeed a leader in 3D graphics, HP's also been a leader
in 3D graphics for quite some time.  Remember, before the merger, 
Apollo and HP sales were nearly equal in the workstation market.

During college ( 81-88 ), I was raised on Apollo and HP workstations.
The HP I used even way back when was a 350 ( 68020 based ) workstation
with a S_olid R_endering X_celerator attached ( 3D solid rendering
subsystem that also handled lighting models, shading, etc ).

As for the ad, I suspect the workstation you saw was just the next
in the pure HP series.  It would be a little hard to have jointly
developed machines at this time ( too fast ).

In the future, its hard to say if the A-word or H-word will be
placed on the front panel.  What goes in the box ( the important
part ) I think will represent the best of _both_ worlds.

> (2) If HP has decided to go into the business of manufacturing
> its own Apollo-style workstations (apparently without actually 
> involving Apollo),  why did they feel compelled to buy them out 
> in the first place? 

Again, HP's been in the business for quite some time.  Why the
buyout ?  I won't pretend to have an answer.  I will say that 
HP-ites and Apollo-ites are busy, very busy, discussing future 
ideas/products.  From my little world, I see a smooth merger, and
a tremendous exchange of ideas and technology. Can you say synergy ?
  
> Peter Shaw
> pshaw@aqua.whoi.edu
> ----------

Thomas "Hpollo" Gilg
tomg@cv.hp.com