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Digital Media
Profile: Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
Transitoning the animation program
3/12/2007
Even though these huge changes seemed daunting to Walker at first, the implementation of the new hardware and software turned out to be less complicated than he had anticipated. "At first I thought, 'Oh no. How am I going to do all this?' I was thinking about how we were going from a UNIX-based world where reliability was really high and stable, to a PC-based world." Walker had heard a lot of horror stories, and assumed there would be multiple system crashes using the untested Windows Software and Intel and AMD-based workstations.
Beyond that, Walker didn't feel familiar enough with the Windows operating system and its associated server software to make the implementation go smoothly. "I wasn't sure if I would understand the structures and things inside the Windows server OS," Walker explained. However, his fears turned out to be unfounded. "There are so many similarities, and if you understand the structures, it wasn't that hard to switch from one to the other, at least not for me."
How did Walker overcome this difficulty of moving from one software and hardware world to another? "I asked a lot of questions, and went on to some forums online," he said, stressing the importance of consulting with experts in the online community, who often are delighted to assist newcomers.
He also found valuable help from the software providers that sold him the Maya animation packages. "The good folks at our local software resellers helped me along, too." Walker had mixed feelings when he recalled the challenge of implementing all-new software and hardware in his large or computer department and lab. "It was painful, yes, but the transformation wasn't horrible," he added.
Looking back on his experience, Walker is now delighted that he made the switch. Both the server based and workstation-based versions of Windows XP have improved considerably in the last seven years, and the IBM Intellistations with dual-core AMD processors running 32-bit Windows XP have proven themselves to be rock solid and dependable. However, Walker's work is never done. Now he's learned that a new version of Maya has just become available. "Just [in mid-January] they came out with 8.5. I need to decide what I'm going to do with that." Something tells us that when the time comes for that upgrade, Walker will be ready, just like he was the last time.
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Charlie White has been writing about new media and digital video since it was the laughingstock of the television industry. A technology journalist and columnist since 1994, White is also an Emmy-winning television producer, video editor, broadcast industry consultant and shot-calling television director who has worked in broadcasting since 1974. He can be reached at chazz@charliewhite.net.
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