SGI: Computer Graphics

josehill wrote: I love "interface responsiveness." Hit the return key or click on something on a reasonable IRIX machine, and the machine feels like it immediately starts doing what you asked it to do. On a current laptop, there is an ever-so-slightly perceptible moment where it feels like the machine's mind is somewhere else, probably looking for some kewl visual effect to show you or figuring out a way to send all your personal data to some botnet controller somewhere.

haha that nails it nicely

it's a common problem that the advantage of faster hardware gets consumed by more bloated software which then equalizes the edge you'd actually have. in some cases it's even a step back. however irix and other unix variants are not immune to that either which is one of the reasons why i stay away from everything gtk2.
most programs reach their peak at some point i.e. the ideal mix of features, speed and usability. after that from a developer's perspective whatever you do you can only make it worse. sgi did a great job in that regard by switching to the quarterly 6.5.x updates; only adding or correcting what actually makes sense. only very few companies have ever accomplished that. under those circumstances the user actually benefits from newer machines but as i said that's very rare unfortunately.

foetz wrote: most programs reach their peak at some point i.e. the ideal mix of features, speed and usability. after that from a developer's perspective whatever you do you can only make it worse. sgi did a great job in that regard by switching to the quarterly 6.5.x updates; only adding or correcting what actually makes sense. only very few companies have ever accomplished that. under those circumstances the user actually benefits from newer machines but as i said that's very rare unfortunately.

This is all true BUT there are long-tested, well-documented methods to ensure that a desktop user interface stays responsive. Even if the program itself is a bloated turd, the interface can stay responsive to input. It's tried, tested, and proven over several decades.

Also totally ignored and forgotten.

wtf ? Are all these people writing application software stupid ? Or they just don't care ? Their egos are all so big they are convinced that their program is the only one that counts and the only one which any user deserves to run ? And if it's busy well hell, the user can just wait until it's finished doing what it wants ?

There is something wrong with this situation. Either that or it's true, no one ever went broke by underestimating the intelligence of the American public.


btw, you'll like this, foetz : several people recently have told me they are sick of US software. The German stuff seems to work better, be better designed and tested and more functional.

hamei wrote: several people recently have told me they are sick of US software. The German stuff seems to work better, be better designed and tested and more functional.

made in germany