An Intel Corp-NT product line from Silicon Graphics Inc makes even more sense now that its Alias/Wavefront software subsidiary has said it will put its next generation 3D animation product, Maya, up on NT. Alias/Wavefront, which did not return calls on the subject Monday when we reported SGI is evaluating Intel/NT solution (CI No 3,217), says the beta implementation of Maya already being tested by 50-odd customers on SGI’s Irix Unix systems won’t be compromised by the addition of a team dedicated to creating a NT implementation. The Irix version of Maya is due early next year, the NT version will ship later but is to be priced the same as the Irix implementation. SGI is trying to figure out how it can market and make money from an Intel box running NT without cannibalizing sales of its more profitable Mips RISC line. Until now, SGI’s key Alias/Wavefront 3D applications haven’t been available to the PC vendors seeking ways to exploit the lucrative graphics business, such as Compaq, Dell and Intergraph, although we know it’s been evaluating an NT port for some time. The company still isn’t saying whether Maya will be available on third party platforms.
