Here at LinuxWorld today, Hewlett-Packard Company announced that it will offer hardware-accelerated OpenGL on HP VISUALIZE fx+ graphics and that it plans to release the company's large model-rendering toolkit to the open-source community. The availability of HP VISUALIZE graphics running on the Linux operating system is expected to help drive the development of new, long-awaited high-end applications in the Mechanical Design Automation (MDA) and Digital Content Creation (DCC) markets.
HP will demonstrate its new capabilities in Linux-based graphics in booth No. 655 at LinuxWorld, which runs Feb. 2 through 4.
HP introduced its first Linux-based 2-D workstations in June, 1999, at the Design Automation Conference. "Today's announcement offers Linux users a whole new dimension to their computing experience," said Jim Zafarana, worldwide marketing manager for HP's Technical Computing Division.
HP also announced the open sourcing of its large model-rendering toolkit (formerly called DirectModel, a trademark now owned by Microsoft®). HP has provided a grant to the University of Tuebingen to port the toolkit to Linux, and to improve its functionality and performance. Upon completion of the project, the source code will be released to the open-source community when the porting effort is completed. At that time the toolkit will support the HP-UX1, Windows NT® and the Linux operating systems.
"We are very happy to be working with HP on this project," said Professor Wolfgang Strasser, University of Tuebingen. "The technology that HP is providing will be a valuable addition to the Linux and graphics communities."
HP Expands Linux Services Offering
HP also announced Personalized System Support, which builds on HP's world-class phone-in assistance for Linux users by providing account-assigned engineers for proactive and reactive support. Local proactive services include release planning, patch management, security reviews, configuration reviews and performance analysis. This complements services that HP already provides for UNIX and NT system customers. As the industry's first major systems vendor to offer worldwide proactive planning and technical assistance for the Linux operating system and Open Source applications, HP field engineers provide local assistance to improve operational effectiveness and successfully manage and implement change within an IT environment.
More information is available on the Web at http://www.hp.com/ssg/linux/pss.html.
"These announcements from HP demonstrate our increasing commitment to the rapidly growing Linux market," said Mike Balma, marketing manager for HP's Open Source Solutions Operation.
Linux for HP Commercial Desktop Users
HP has partnered with Aalborg University to improve the Linux experience for HP Commercial desktop PCs users through a Web site that offers extensive information and software on various HP models. This portal provides a central location for a wide array of peripheral drivers, including scanners, printers, CD-writers, tape drives, zip drives, sound cards and more. This central HP community site will save users time during installation and help improve Linux performance with configuration tips for HP Commercial Desktop PCs. More information is available at www.hp-linux.org.
HP recently announced the Freedom of Choice Program on Commercial Desktops with its Open OS Models. This program unbundles the operating system from the PC, allowing customers to save significant money when choosing an open-source operating system.
HP Commercial Desktop PCs (HP Vectra and Brio PCs and HP Kayak Personal Workstations) are all certified by major Linux distributors, including RedHat, SuSE, Caldera and Turbolinux by Linuxcare.
More information on Open OS models is available at http://www.hp.com/desktops/.
More information about the HP VISUALIZE workstation family is available at http://www.hp.com/go/technical.
About HP
Hewlett-Packard Company -- a leading global provider of computing and imaging solutions and services for business and home -- is focused on capitalizing on the opportunities of the Internet and the proliferation of electronic services.
HP plans to launch Agilent Technologies as an independent company by mid-calendar 2000. Agilent consists of HP's test and measurement, semiconductor products, chemical analysis and healthcare solutions businesses, and has leading positions in multiple market segments.
HP has 83,200 employees worldwide and had total revenue from continuing operations of $42.4 billion in its 1999 fiscal year. Information about HP, its products and the company's Year 2000 program can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com.
