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.