Alias Spin Off?

Category: 3rd Party Software
Link: Alias, makers of Maya, announces it is in talks for a possible buyout from SGI

Posted on MacBytes.com

Approved by Mudbug

I wonder just who that Private buyer is or who they represent.

Alias would be a nice aquisition for Apple. But I don't know if they'd be interested in developing their own 3D App.

I've heard Adobe, MS, or Apple.
I hope it's Apple.

Originally posted by ITR 81
I've heard Adobe, MS, or Apple.
I hope it's Apple.

heard from where? from who?

The general consensus on Slashdot was that Apple would buy them as well, and I certainly hope this happens. If they do then hopefully they do the same as with Logic in terms of pricing on other platforms.

no pro apps left on windows - and if - twice the price ;p

but on the other side if those things happen - apple will become more and more a pseudo monopoly.

It seems that Apple is currently grabbing anything that is up for grabs... and rightly so. Up untill a few years ago, the "real" designers only used Apple Mac, and companies like Adobe and Macromdeia were almost exclusively servicing the Mac-Industry, with a couple of products available for PC as well. Now, since these companies (Adobe & Macromedia) have substantial supports for the PC, companies, especially the smaller ones, are not buying Macs to do the day to day DTP/Graphic Design work. So the nieche-market that once was entirely Apple's domain has been infiltrated by the PCers. (Well, at least we don't have to deal with that horrible Corel Draw any more, absolutely zero cross-compatibility).

So, with the Personal Computer Industry supplying faster and faster machines, the new, high-end, markets of Video and Animation are becoming more accessible to the world, and Apple is now taking the initiative and, it seems, concentrating on becoming the leader in that market. Steve knows what he is doing there, being CEO of Pixar after all.

The only thing bothering me is that Apple must take care not to become too specialised again. They are currently making great leaps into getting their Macs to personal and home-users and it would be a pity if the situation were to change and the Macs would be seen as Computers only for a specialised market.

I believe if Apple bought Alias it would be very good for Apple and it'd put a large dent in the Window's pro market for a while.

I'm sure something will replace Maya there as soon as Windows users are ready for an update.. perhaps Apple should start a program where you turn in your Windows Alias software, get xy% off the latest (When apple came out with a newer version of Maya, only for the mac.) Mac Version and $200 off any mac? That'd be one sweet of a deal and counld draw Windows Alias users to a mac. One can only dream :)

Did I miss something? The press release calls the interested party a "leading private equity investment firm". Unless that is an intentionally misleading description (highly unlikely), they aren't talking about Apple. So why is everyone talking about the effects of Apple buying Alias?

The only reason this press release was posted is that Apple was previously rumored to be a contender, and now clearly isn't.

Yeah, I was also puzzled by the "leading private equity investment firm" thing. What exactly does that mean? Could that be a firm that acts as a go-between for Apple and Alias?

With Apple Maya, Final Cut Pro, DVD Studio Pro, Shake, Logic and the very promising future of the G5 - Apple is poising itself to be the leading manufacturer of computers for Hollywood. It cannot be overstated what a HUGE market this is - it could propel Apple forward in enormous ways, though not necessarily in the low-end consumer market (which will remain Windows-centric.)

Jobs knows what he is doing indeed. He just kicked out DISNEY for god's sake! He's got major clout in Hollywood, with a super successful animation studio under his belt - and now leading a company that is creating tools that are a joy to use.

On the other hand, maybe Microsoft is buying Maya, to cut it off from the Mac and make Apple suffer.