Pierre:
Re: RIVA 128
Let me cite Michael's original comment:
"Without a track record in the area, OEM's would be foolish to give a contract to an unproven design, by a company new to the field."
My point is, the RIVA 128 was a huge success in OEM land. AT THE TIME, it WAS a _relatively_ unproven design AND by a company new to the field.
I agree with this. I just wanted you to know that Michael was referring to some specific statements from Sun Tzu (and possibly from me) about OEMs supporting Banshee sight-unseen. Michael and I were making the point that OEMs don't do that.
They're willing to look at unproven products (your point) but unwilling to commit to products not yet completed (our point). It just looked to me like you were misunderstanding the context and meaning of what Michael was saying. I wasn't intending to debate anything, because we appear to agree.
Re: Rush
I'm sure you're right. OEMs would want to see that Banshee wasn't another Rush. Rush had two main problems:
1) Poor 2D.
2) 3D needed Rush specific drivers.
It wasn't a poorly manufactured card or anything. It just wasn't impressive.
It seems that Banshee fixes those two failings.
I think TACTICALLY 3Dfx as a company would be better positioned today if they had not delayed Banshee in order to get the V2 out early. If Banshee had come out 6 months ago, 3Dfx would have this whole industry buttoned up TIGHT. If if if if.
I don't think they could have reversed the order. If they'd come out with Banshee first, just as it is now, you're quite correct that they'd have sold a zillion. Great. But, could they have come out with Voodoo2 after that? The gain from a Banshee to a Voodoo2 is pretty modest, even negative on single texture games (the most common at this point). All the hard core gamers would have gone out and bought Banshee. Who would have bought Voodoo2?
And would Banshee have been as good? What would the TNT look like if Banshee had come out in a slightly slower (90Mhz?) version 6 months ago? Would we be impressed by the Voodoo2 if it came out today? Assume equivalent of Rev3 board design (i.e. 100Mhz).
I think the heart of their strategy is sound: a retail product to break new ground and a cheap OEM to follow up in volume. Doing Banshee then Voodoo2 would have gummed this up.
Simon |
