Greetings, all. I've just joined the list, after reading some of
the slashdot traffic last fall and skimming the recent archives.
There are 2 or 3 threads in the archive about possible names. I
gave it some thought last night.
It seems to me that it would be desirable to project some of the
following impressions:
This is no ephemeral consumer product.
This is a solid, reliable industrial video board that will be around
and supported for years to come. It's a suitable choice for risk-averse
commercial applications that will remain in service for years and require
continued support as operating systems and applications evolve. It and its
compatible successors will have long production lives, so that a design can
be put through complex and expensive qualification tests, and remain
available for purchase over a long production life.
Unlike nearly all other computer graphics boards, this one is
standard. By "standard", I mean that all the mechanical, electrical, and
logical interfaces to it are specified in published documents that are
readily available, and sufficiently detailed to support the independent
creation of interoperable hardware and drivers. (The manufacturer's data
sheet can be considered a formal standard, as long as it's complete,
published, and stable. This assumes that the data sheet would be issued
under a license that at least allows its republication if the original
publisher ceases to offer it.)
Because the board is standard, all owners, operating system vendors,
and volunteer projects are at liberty to provide long-term driver support
without specific permission and assistance from the board vendor. (That's
what this whole project is about, right?)
The performance is easily sufficient for the intended professional
uses, but is not carried to the point of sacrificing other important needs.
In other words, this is a conservatively designed Diesel truck, not a
temperamental Ferrari.
The name should appeal both to computer professionals and to
conservative middle-aged businessmen. It should be sober, but convey
competence, strength, and integrity.
And that leads me to my suggestion.
SIGMA
Sigma can be reverse-acronymed as Standard Industrial Graphics
Monitor Adapter. Not too forced, eh? And well in line with the project
goals.
Another mark of a serious industrial or commercial product is that
it has a part number, and not just a name. Sigma part numbers could start
with SG or SG1. The remainder of the part number would be a feature-coded
dash number structure. For example, the number for an AGP version with 128M
of graphics memory and an optional socket for a plug-in second configuration
memory might be SG1-A128S.
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