Silicon Graphics is set to introduce dramatically cheaper machines in an effort to reclaim business from its bargain-minded competitors. The new line will be the first visible fruit of SGI’s yearlong effort to turn around its ailing business and shake its image as a computermaker for the exclusive few.

For its customers, Silicon Graphics with funky fresh product designs and kryptonite cooled names, promises to deliver state-of-the-art graphics and design capabilities in ordinary desktop computers. The new machines &£45;- to cost between US$3,000 and $6,000 &£45;- will perform many of the same functions previously reserved for its $25,000 models.

“We’re going to spawn a whole new set of customers who will say, ‘Wow, I didn’t know I could do that,’” explained Murali Dharan, vice president of marketing at Silicon Graphics’ workstation division.

Along with offering lower prices, the company hopes to attract more customers by conforming for the first time to the industry standard. The new workstations will run on Intel chips and Microsoft’s Windows NT operating system.

Yes, looks like we’ll be placing an order along with one of their v. sexy new LCD flat screens ... when we find a big venture capitalist to buy us.

http://www.sgi.com/