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the meaning of SGI hardware in 2025 - Printable Version

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the meaning of SGI hardware in 2025 - Jurgis - 05-24-2025

Hi, I was searching on the VGA sync on green issue which puzzled me since around 2006, so I found this forum. 
Having had access to several SGI workstations from 2006 to 2010, I could never really figure out what to use them for. Still I saw customers having them in rather strange locations, so they must have had some use for them.
Today I got my O2 out and was not expecting this thing to work on a more or less modern flat screen. To my surprise it did. The only issue is the mouse, where to find a PS2 mouse in 2025?
My daughter was fascinated by this relic from the stone age, and we managed to shut it down via shell.

Now my question to the community is:  What do you guys do with these? Is anyone still using them?             

RE: the meaning of SGI hardware in 2025 - Raion - 05-24-2025

Bon dia, como estàs?

A lot of people have fascination with 3D software and CAD. I prefer the HPC side of things and the fact it's a decently clean UNIX overall. Janky at times, but way less complicated than any modern OS. It's kind of a nice intermediate, for me, between Research UNIX or even maybe the AmigaOS, and the heavyweight stuff of Microsoft Windows or modern GNU/Linux.

As for a PS/2 mouse, most widely available probably Amazon.

Nice to see more Iberians here. Smile

RE: the meaning of SGI hardware in 2025 - vishnu - 05-25-2025

I use mine for Pro/ENGINEER (CAD software) and programming with the MIPSPro compiler. And for what it's worth, Pro/ENGINEER was (is) pretty much feature complete from its last SGI release, no really meaningful new features have been added since the last SGI release, just user interface tweaks. For those of us who are dinosaurs, we still actually make significant use of BRL Cad.

RE: the meaning of SGI hardware in 2025 - Shiunbird - 05-26-2025

I use mine for productive tasks, to learn coding and whenever I need a distraction-free environment to focus on something, depending on what I am doing.

I use my HP 712/60 with nextstep almost every day and I use my Octane 2x per week.

RE: the meaning of SGI hardware in 2025 - Jurgis - 05-27-2025

(05-24-2025, 10:02 PM)Raion Wrote:  Nice to see more Iberians here. Smile
Actually I'm of germanic origin, only living here for the weather.  This region of the Mediteranean has been created by the Gods for the Greek, there is never winter, an eternal spring. The Greeks colonized these cities like Barcelona, up to Marseille.
(05-25-2025, 10:08 AM)vishnu Wrote:  I use mine for Pro/ENGINEER (CAD software) and programming with the MIPSPro compiler. ...  For those of us who are dinosaurs, we still actually make significant use of BRL Cad.
I saw this BRL cad a couple of years ago, but there is not much available in tutorials.  Is it worth learning it? (dont worry, I will not install it on IRIX).
Currently I'm fighting with Blender, it has such nice features like sun position where you can calculate shadows based on your location and date. I'm looking for something to make basic 3d drawings of steel frames, timber and walls. Tried Freecad before but its awkward.
(05-26-2025, 07:36 AM)Shiunbird Wrote:  ...  whenever I need a distraction-free environment to focus on something,...
Yeah, thats actually a point. You will not be bothered by social media and all this stuff ...  I get it.

RE: the meaning of SGI hardware in 2025 - Raion - 05-27-2025

> Actually I'm of germanic origin, only living here for the weather.

Shhhh.

I love the warm places tbh. Virginia gets really mild winters and is rather clean overall. I hate the cold.

RE: the meaning of SGI hardware in 2025 - mosca - 05-28-2025

Hovering around freezing is the worst temperature range. Either stay above 5-6oC or bellow -3oC at all times.

The main annoyance with winter is when it keeps flipping between bellow freezing and above freezing and you end up in a muddy/icy mess all around you.

Having snow and an activity to perform outside with snow is a great helper in the dark days of winter up here, close to the arctic circle.

RE: the meaning of SGI hardware in 2025 - Shiunbird - 05-28-2025

(05-28-2025, 07:37 AM)mosca Wrote:  The main annoyance with winter is when it keeps flipping between bellow freezing and above freezing and you end up in a muddy/icy mess all around you.
I was born in a tropical country, so what I appreciate the most after these 15+ years in Europe is that the seasons are actually different, instead of ((dry OR wet) AND hot).

We are having a nice lovely fresh chilly May here, the way I like it.
Summers are better hot.
Winters are better cold.
The rest should be temperate.

Warm muddy winters, wet summers and undefined spring and autumns are the worst.
When I was living Moscow, I hated the -20C on Monday, +5 on Wednesday, then -10 on Saturday bullshit of having no sea nearby to smoothen the curve.

RE: the meaning of SGI hardware in 2025 - vishnu - 08-11-2025

With regard to winter, living as I do in a part of the world that's considered almost sub-arctic, my cold weather gear includes the US Army mil-std N3 parka and pants, and the somewhat famous bone-white air pressurized "bunny boots," which were developed by the Air Force for high altitude flights to minus 40 degrees F.

Irinikus, do you guys use such gear when you're flying?