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Computer peripherals

Apple Unveils QuickDraw 3D Accelerator Card for Blazing Fast 3D Interaction

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Apple has begun worldwide shipments of the Apple QuickDraw 3D Accelerator Card, a blazingly fast 3D interaction solution that accelerates 3D interaction up to 12 times. The PCI-based card, coupled with Apple's QuickDraw 3D graphics software, provides workstation-quality 3D features and performance for the comparatively lower cost and greater ease of use of a desktop computer. The QuickDraw 3D Accelerator Card integrates with QuickDraw 3D, the cross-platform application program interface (API) that is quickly becoming an emerging standard in the area of computer-based 3D graphics and animations.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Apple QuickDraw 3D Accelerator Card accelerates 3D interaction up to 12 times, providing workstation-quality 3D features and performance for a desktop computer.
  • The card integrates with QuickDraw 3D, a cross-platform application program interface (API) that is quickly becoming an emerging standard in computer-based 3D graphics and animations.
  • The card is priced at U.S. $399 Apple Price and is available through Apple Authorized Resellers worldwide.
  • The QuickDraw 3D Accelerator Card requires a PCI-based Power Macintosh computer or any other PCI equipped computer running Macintosh system software version 7.5.2 or later, system enabler 1.1 or later, a hard disk drive, and 16MB of memory.
  • The card provides customers with up to 12 times faster performance depending on the task at hand, enabling them to work in real-time with larger and more complicated 3D models.
  • The card supports complicated techniques graphics professionals use most, including Gouraud shading, texture mapping, transparency, constructive solid geometry, and more.
  • The QuickDraw 3D Accelerator Card is designed for customers in the graphic arts, content/media authoring, games, and technical markets.

Statistics:

  • The QuickDraw 3D Accelerator Card accelerates 3D interaction up to 12 times.
  • The card requires a hard disk drive and 16MB of memory to operate.
  • The card provides customers with up to 12 times faster performance depending on the task at hand.
  • The QuickDraw 3D Accelerator Card is priced at U.S. $399 Apple Price.
  • Apple began worldwide shipments of the QuickDraw 3D Accelerator Card in November 1995.

Sources:

  • Apple Computer, Inc. press release, dated November 13, 1995.
  • Macromedia International User Conference, held in San Francisco in 1995.
  • Apple's home page on the World Wide Web: http://www.apple.com/

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