Re: [TCLUG:16547] Why is the Indy desirable??

[James Federline <jim.federline@maryville.com>]

Nate wrote:
>On Fri, 21 Apr 2000, Bill Layer wrote:
>
>> I guess I am missing something..
>>
>> By description, these machines sound to be of the ilk of a P200 with
64MB
>> and a 2GB drive, running a *nix type OS (were it actually installed).
The
>> price of $250 seems pretty average for a machine of that ability, so
what
>> is the deal? Is there somethihg particualrly special about the Indy
that is
>> making it so desirable?
>>
>> (Obviously, I don't know the first thing about SGI
>> machines)
>>
>> Preparing for the flames..
>
>you get a _really really really_ nice 17" monitor to use as an x-term.
:)
>
>but seriously, irix is a good os to learn & know.. i believe most
people
>are buying these just for the experience of working on non-wintel
>hardware.  :)

I'm into it for a number of reasons:

1) UNIX is UNIX as far as I'm concerned. It all feels the same. It's not
mechanics, it's a state of mind. And when you love UNIX, collecting UNIX
is fun. :)
2) I am fond of pizza-box machines. The Indy will sit on top of the
SparcStation 2 and HP 712/60 at home.
3) As Nate mentioned, non-wintel hardware is nice to work with now and
again.
4) My job requires me to be ready for most any OS, and to know details
about commercial apps that certainly do not run on Linux yet, and I
despise the idea of sitting in the office cramming a new app when I
should be home with the family. :)
5) Isn't the faux-cracked cobalt Indy case a beauty to look at? ;)
6) The monitor is nice, but I already have the HP 20" version - I may be
looking to sell the SGI 17". Any takers? :)

All that said - rest assured that my main server is an IBM PC Server
330, 384MB, 2x4.3GB RAID box running Linux. :) I still haven't got the
damn thing to see past 64MB (see message a week or two ago). On
non-wintel hardware, I never have this problem... *nudge nudge* ;)

-Jim