Newsgroups: comp.graphics
Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watcgl!imax!dave
From: dave@imax (Dave Martindale)
Subject: Pixar sells hardware division to Vicom
Message-ID: <1990May2.154503.9201@imax.com>
Sender: dave@imax.com (Dave Martindale)
Organization: Imax Systems Corporation, Oakville Ontario
Date: Wed, 2 May 90 15:45:03 GMT

I received a letter from Pixar yesterday.  This is an excerpt from it:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am writing to tell you that Pixar has agreed to sell our Image Computer
division to Vicom Systems, Inc. of Fremont, CA.  As you may know, Vicom is
a leader in the image processing marketplace with an impressive installed
base of customers.

This division will transfer to Vicom as a self-contained unit.  All
employees in the image computer division will be making the move, including
division management, development, sales and customer support.  The
physical location of the division under Vicom will remain close to Pixar's
current Marin County site.

The decision to sell the Image Computer has not been easy -- we take great
pride in it, but, our business goal is to be a graphics software company.

[remainder of letter deleted]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

The letter was signed by Charles Kolstad, president.

At the Pixar user's group meeting at last summer's SIGGRAPH, it was
apparent that Pixar didn't seem interested in doing any more hardware
development.  I guess this is just the logical conclusion of that.
I'm disappointed, since my interest is in the Image Computer hardware
and its software, not RenderMan.

It remains to be seen what Vicom does with the line - whether they
just provide minimal support for the existing hardware, or continue
development.

	Dave Martindale
	dave@imax.com