VigilAnt Rant and Some Observations

[Maggi]

Originally posted by Chief_Inspector

...
How about this one. Each time there is some kind of debate here about Matrox not having anything new, the beta testers were the first ones to jump in giving hints about something new coming soon. Where are they in this thread?

Since the big M didn't deny what VigilAnt posted recently, I presume it is pretty save to say that Pitou was taped out ...

Feeling better now ?

[Ryu Connor]

Since the big M didn't deny what VigilAnt posted recently, I presume it is pretty save to say that Pitou was taped out ...

Feeling better now ?

Not really. Whose going to risk buying another broke product (Pitou) when Matrox won't even bother fixing their current broke product (Parhelia)?

[Maggi]

Valid point, Ryu !

Sorry for misunderstanding, but my question was meant rather rethorical and pointed to CI's direct question about lack of comments coming from the BBz in this thread.

There should be no doubt about the lack of confirmation and acknowledgement from Matrox, how they plan to handle the flawed HW that we users purchased for quite a lot of money.

For that reason, I cannot recommend to purchase any Parhelia card right now and only time will tell if Matrox will ever come back to fullfill their very own claim:

http://www.matrox.com/mga/archive_story/jul2002/parhelia_business.cfm

Acclaimed Quality and Support

Whether it be driver support, support utilities, quality and reliability of
software or hardware, professionals can expect the same leading support that
Matrox has become known for around the globe.

[GNEP]

What's broken on the Pitou? AFAIK no one has a running board... so how can you tell?

[Ryu Connor]

Gnep:

Perhaps I should word my statement more like this.

Whose going to risk their professional reputation or they're personal income on a product from a company who refused to either acknowledge certain issues (clock speed) and correct other issues (banding) found in their previous product?

If they can't be bothered to fix and stand behind Parhelia, then when something goes wrong with Pitou what makes you think the story will be any different?

It's a new product and it brings with it to the table a clean slate. It may well be issue free, but a new product doesn't change the company stance. Whose going to spend $400USD again for a product without support?

[GNEP]

Put like that, then yes, I agree Ryu. Although the "problems" to date with the Parhelia haven't affected me in the slightest - my board is clocked at 220 and the banding has only ever happened in a situation deliberately created to see it (running the PowerDVD playback tests, I only got slight banding in a couple of the tests) - so all round I am pretty happy with my P - but understand others' issues.

Gnep

[Ryu Connor]

I wish I could say the same.

Wrong clockspeed and both my 21" monitors band quite noticably.



All the more disheartening in that I asked for the card because of Matrox reputation for 2D output and quality.

[UberLord]

Originally posted by Ryu Connor
All the more disheartening in that I asked for the card because of Matrox reputation for 2D output and quality.

Ditto

[Pace]

Originally posted by Chief_Inspector
Regarding 3D, they are finished, finito, caput. No resources, no proper test equipment, no roadmap, no oems, and a scrooge as an owner, is a recipe for a sinking ship. They can keep on doing 2D cards but that will come to an end. They can go after niche markets but these people buy a card every 10 years and expect to get support for that long.

Interesting info, where did you get it from? I've suspected for a long time that they have no proper test equipment.

You're quite right about niche markets - niche markets make no money, they should sell gaming cards instead.

[borat]

at present matrox have a technically good product, they have already developed a 512bit gpu and 256 bit ddr which can form the basis of a very interesting product line up plus all of the other features that they have which others have mentioned. they are not without technology they just need to implement it better, whether or not they will do that in time only a very few people are able to have a decent guess at.

[Chief_Inspector]

"Interesting info, where did you get it from?"

Just an educated assumption

[Pace]

no proper test equipment

an educated assumption

Explain to me how you can assume they have no proper test equipment?

And next time you make an assumption, don't make it look like facts.

Edit: If it's given as a rumour, I'll read it as one, but if it's given as fact from someone I don't know, I'll likely ignore it So, give me your rumours

[Chief_Inspector]

Luv to explain but rather not. Don't really care if people want to believe me or not so take what I say as fact, assumptions, or with a grain of salt, your choice

Anyhoo, 1 of my predictions came true today. Their entire office in Florida closed down. Don't know how many people though but they did have a large team of 3D coders and asic designers. Hmmm, their Toronto office closed down a few weeks ago where they also had a large team of asic designers. More bad news is that there will be more ax cutting this coming friday and this time its in hq.

CI

[OasisPlaces]

The chief inspector seems to have a point

Anyhoo, 1 of my predictions came true today. Their entire office in Florida closed down. Don't know how many people though but they did have a large team of 3D coders and asic designers. Hmmm, their Toronto office closed down a few weeks ago where they also had a large team of asic designers. More bad news is that there will be more ax cutting this coming friday and this time its in hq.

They don't seem to be getting thier act together, rather they just
seem to be running around like leatherface.. and chucky and cutting all they can.
Matrox management appears to be functioning like another well known chief inspector... "peeka bow.."
talk about pulling out the wrong teeth..

Some people seem cynical if the chief is stating half baked rumors,
but if they've already closed their r&d centers in toronto, and Florida.. they're more than likely running on less staff than they
had 8 years ago..
Do they have the proper test equipment.. well all parhelias are
populated with 300Mhz memory.. do you see any that can actually
do it?? for all intents it only seems like they've been dropping
the clocks on the cards.. i doubt they invested in the equipment..
and the way things are going there with layoffs.. in a week or
so tech support and engineering will be manned by the owners..

brings a whole new meaining to brank'omatic..

[Stringy]

Cuts and layoffs aren't always bad...
Granted getting rid of talented people isn't a good thing, but to change the direction and structure of a company sometimes it is needed...

Closing satilite offices reduces costs by alot..
And just curious, how do you know they are R&D offices related to Video?? or is that just another Assumption??


Is Mcdonalds going down hill because they closed a few stores? are they Dead and doomed?

C'mon... this is business and you don't know why these decisions were made...
if Matrox leaves the Video market so be it, the writting has been on the wall for some time, but don't forget this could all just be a restructuring.. They could be buying all that equipment you say they don't have and centralizing themselves ...

I don't know.. but I wont throw down tarrot cards and try predict it...


Craig