Workstations

The third and the most powerful category of computers are

workstations. These mean-machines are used for powerful graphics work such as

CAD, animations, 3D modeling, and the like. All the popular MNC brands have

machines in this category.

This time, the three-year long reign of IBM workstations has

been broken not by last year’s runner up Compaq, but by HP. IBM could only

gather enough votes to reach the third position. Compaq remains runner up for

the second time.

Workstations are no longer the domain of high-end and costly

RISC processors running some variant of Unix. Today, most workstations in the

market are based on the Intel PIII class of processors. In fact, even your local

neighborhood assembler can make them. That’s why, the assembler has managed a

place in the User’s Choice Club for the second year. Indian brands aren’t

left out of the segment either. Wipro has managed the fourth spot this time,

which is a position higher than last year. Interestingly, the highest number of

Wipro workstations were reported as being used currently. This was followed by

HCL, which unfortunately couldn’t take the user’s mindshare.

In order for a workstation to be able to deliver good

performance, the right mix of components have to be used, particularly the

graphics card and RAM. That’s why the main criterion for deciding upon a

workstation was quality. Interestingly, SGI and Sun, two companies known for

their graphics workstations, have not been able to gather enough votes to remain

in the Club.

With processors having crossed the 1 GHz landmark, workstations are going to

become more powerful than ever before. Adding to that are graphics cards, which

have also become extremely powerful, thanks to nVidia’s innovative GeForce

chip. As both processor and graphics cards become more readily available, it

wouldn’t be difficult for assemblers or the Indian brands to make these

workstations. This could pose a serious threat to MNC brands. We’ll have to

wait till next year to find out.