Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1438374
o c t o b e r • n o v e m b e r • d e c e m b e r 2 0 2 1 c g w 3 1 is something of a sideline, while corporate creators are employed full-time, and their PC has to meet corporate security while remaining personal and flexible. Dell has stated that its Precision work- station team has implemented a number of programs specifically aiming at gig workers and small business creatives, and have identified a clear incremental opportunity there for the business. Dell's market efforts have not always aimed directly at those kinds of independent or smaller creator shops, instead working extensively with enterprise creators — traditional TV, film, and game de- velopment studios. Dell thinks that many of those independent creators may not realize that their efforts to serve clients and custom- ers would be better served with a Precision workstation that delivers better performance and reliability for the unique needs of their workflows than a conventional PC. SUMMARY An addition to the creatives workspace that you won't see as oen on the engineering side is the work going into touch screens with pens and, more likely, external drawing pads and screens. The workstation com- panies are also experimenting with pads as part of the computer's accessories — either attached or built-in. Artists and illustrators like paper surfac- es. They like the feel of the quill against the texture of the paper — calligraphers have the same affection for the medium. Drawing devices have improved astronomically, but for many artists, it's not enough. The work- station vendors and peripheral makers are putting work into reducing latency, keeping artists on task and in the flow with better drawing tools. We have done a great job on pressure-sensitive brush widths, smooth an- ti-aliased curves, color palettes, and speed. And the computer adds instancing and AI predictability. We're seeing 3D drawing tools emerge for headsets — maybe it's still a bit like drawing with a rock, but look what has happened to pads and tablets. So, given what they had to work with, the creatives have demonstrated their creative- ness and learned how to use, and to really exploit, the electronic medium. Their results speak for themselves, and that will always continue. The notebook workstation makers get a lot of credit. They've always tried to address the issue and support the fringe artist community. It was only in the last five years that the size of that population, struggling to create on clunky PCs, became apparent, and the workstation suppliers woke up to the potential. This is a golden era for creatives. They've got the attention of the top machine builders. That means the next generation of notebook workstations are going to be spectacular as the suppliers try to outdo each other. They will be feature-rich, have accessories, soware tools and libraries, massive super-fast storage, and blazingly fast secure communications. The creatives are making the hardware sup- pliers creative. Dr. Jon Peddie (jon@jonpeddie.com) is a recog- nized author and pioneer in the graphics industry; president of Jon Peddie Research, a Tiburon, CA-based consultancy specializing in graphics and multimedia that also publishes JPR's "Tech- Watch"; and named one of the most influential analysts in the world.