[jirka]

I have been using my SGI O2 as my main home computer/workstation since 2005 (I bought this computer from Ian Mapleson in 2004). It was not too impressive machine even in 2005, I think: a R10k/250 CPU with a 9GB HDD and 256MB of RAM, connected to a 17" 1280x1024 screen (the ViewSonic VP171b for most of time - I probably used an ADI CRT in the beginning).
It that time it was a big performance boost for me as I used the Indy with the R4k/175, 128MB of RAM and with the XZ board (already upgraded from R4600PC/133 and 32MB of RAM...).

During years I have replaced the HDD (now there is a 32GB Fujitsu drive), the screen with the 1600SW and added RAM to have the full 1GB. I still use the original Indy-era granite keyboard and a granite mouse (the mouse is probably the 3rd one - the keyboard is much more durable). I also upgraded the OS to IRIX 6.5.27 (I got a current version from the local SGI reseller when this version was still the current one).

There were times when I was able to do almost all my work on this system. The only exceptions were VPN connection and communications with modern external devices (Linux PDAs, USB sticks and so). I was even able to made and edis some office stuff here with the OpenOffice. And I was  able to control my bank account from this device. But it was possible to connect some of the USB devices (USB sticks and Nokia Internet Tablets) to my LinkSys NSLU-2 (I have had the Sharity installed for that).

But there has been worsening in the time. After 2010 it was necessary to have a second desktop for WWW browsing and many other tasks. I used my laptop for that role (a Lenovo x61s), then a RapsBerry Pi (a terrible choice for such task) and the ODROID XU-4 in the Mini Indigo case from Dodoid. For some time I tried to use the Apple iMac G5 as a second desktop. But it work better as a multimedia device in the living room...

In 2018 I decided to buy a POWER9 computer (Raptor Computing Systems "Blackbird" board with a 4-core IBM POWER9 CPU). Raptor is a small company so it needed a lot of time to get the device. But now I have a complete setup - a POWER9 machine with 32GB of RAM and 512GB SSD drive in a black tower. It work well, it's quiet (except the start when it runs all 4 fans at full speed for at least 2 minutes...). The only problem is AMD GPU but it seems that I got a faulty one. So now I'm using and build-in framebuffer (surprisingly it runs the 1920x1200 screen perfectly, including videos - except for the 3D apps and games, of course).

From the moment when I started to use the IRIX I was never fully satisfied with the Linux. But it's OK for everyday use. It seem that I am able to do most of stuff on that system - writing and programming in the Vim, making LaTeX documents and slides, programming in C/Tcl and so, running my own programs (C/Tcl/OpenGL/Gtk+-2). Sometimes I use things that were never available on IRIX (running modern MATLAB-like Octave codes; the GNU Octave for IRIX is 2.x which is way too old for many things). The new workstation is a POWER/PowerPC, not the Intel or the AMD but it still is not the MIPS. I wished to have a modern MIPS desktop but no such thing exist and probably will never exist :-(

I will probably keep the SGI O2 on my desk and will run it sometimes. But no longer on daily basis. I have had to get a new screen (the EIZO FlexScan EV2456) which occupies too much space. So I have had to move the 1600SW to a side so it's not so easily reachable. And I have had to remove the old good ViewSonic LCD completely so now I don't have any interface to my Indigo and my Indy... So the only SGI I'm able to run relatively easily is the O2 :-(

[Jacques]

I salute you for keeping at it so long. Depending on what you do for a living, SGI machines can sometimes work as a working machine, other times it's pretty much only good for hobby use.

My machines only see hobby use, and much less so these days. I just don't have time with other things (house refurbishments and work) to spend time on my SGI's, I will probably sell one of my machines in the near future.

But well done, I know you've been very active on your O2! I'm sure it deserves a proud place on your desk somewhere!

[Raion]

I'm incredibly jealous of your POWER 9.

Please participate here in that capacity if you please.

[soviet]

Using an O2 even y 2005 for dally work was only for the hardcore SGI fans.

You really keep it going on, have a pic of that power pc system ?, never heard of it before.

[ghost180sx]

Jirka,

That's awesome you've been using your SGI as a daily workstation since the 2000's. I myself have done the same thing, ironically, with powerpc Macs. I used a G5 Quad as a daily machine up until about a year ago. The irony, hey? I heard about the blackbird boards from the Mac G5 community and I think that's awesome you have continued your plan to go x86 free.

Actually, I stumbled upon your Notes app on [Softpedia] the other day, and then found your [blog] and [github] page. But, I noticed I can no longer download your awesome notes app.

Would you mind sharing with us the code or downloads on github again? I'd be very excited to at least try out, read or continue the code for these kinds of apps you have built over the years.

[shrek]

It would be great if you made a more in depth review of your POWER9 workstation. I've been thinking about getting one to try to move away from x86 due to security and performance issues with Intel platforms. If I got one I would set mine up with CentOS and try to compile the NEXTSPACE desktop (WindowMaker based DE).