This move to variable pipelines in hardware makes some really neat features and capabilities available, but it also increases the level of difficulty of writing good, high-performing, stable graphics drivers on UNIX systems such as Linux, Solaris, HP/UX, AIX, etc. Yet Xi Graphics has just released a full suite of graphics drivers that defy conventional wisdom - that wisdom being embodied by a statement from a spokesman for one of the very large graphics houses - to the effect that "it is unrealistic to expect third-party graphics driver developers to be able to write drivers for the variable rendering pipelines. . ."   Our first release of drivers for the Wildcat VP line should put to rest such skepticism, at least as it relates to Xi Graphics, one of the premier "third-party" graphics driver developers.

This first release of Wildcat VP drivers benchmark very favorably against the Windows drivers from 3Dlabs, which have been tuned through several releases. Also, several of the "big apps" such as Maya, "O", Performer, Unreal Tournament 2003, etc., work with this first driver release. So it would seem that we are off to a good start for the support of these cards and this new 3Dlabs graphics architecture. We are indebted to 3Dlabs for their support in this effort. [ed. June 17, 2003]