Article Abstract:
The Web server market has gone from a mere two free products, to dozens of commercial offerings ranging in price from $120 to $10,000. Microsoft and NaviSoft threaten to change the nature of this newly emerging market by giving away their products for free. This move has forced competitors to cut prices drastically. To serve pages on the World Wide Web, a direct Internet connection and a computer server are both required. The choice of server will depend on the amount of traffic and nature of the content. The software works in the background, running on the server and responding to requests from Web browsers. Although it is possible to assemble the various pieces of a Web server, many companies prefer to purchase a complete bundle. Although Web servers traditionally ran on UNIX, Windows NT is also capable of maintaining a large Web server.
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Article Abstract:
Alias/Wavefront's $10,000 Maya animation software is an NT-based program that performs admirably in the 3D character animation department. The expensive program also offers an open architecture that provides a platform for the integration of third-party programming developments. Although the new interface may initially be confusing to some users, the program's excellent usability, which enables most functions to be administered via hotkeys and pull-down menus, will quickly win them over. Revisions are easily accomplished with this program, and serious modeling and sculpting functions can be performed using the program's ball and lattice technology. A particular strength of this program is the facial animation function, which adds a number of control functions in a short time.
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Article Abstract:
The market for Windows NT-based OpenGL accelerator cards is exploding, fueled by cheaper RAM, the competition between 3D chip makers and the OpenGL API's stability. Small graphics businesses can now afford the cards, whose prices start around $1,000. When choosing which product is most appropriate, users should look into the kind of chipsets the boards are running on, determine whether they need a card with a separate geometry engine, the types of software drivers the card supports, and whether it supports Intel's AGP technology. Compared to PCI, AGP offers more advanced features and has a physically different slot.
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic: