Graphics rendering was fundamentally changed in Mathematica version 6. Before that graphics output was treated specially, like a Print statement. Now output graphics are treated much the same as any other expression, and output can be suppressed with ; (CompoundExpression).

The documentation states:

Between Versions 5 and 6

The graphics functionality has significantly changed. For compatibility purposes, use <<Version5`Graphics` to restore graphics capabilities from Mathematica 5. To restore the Mathematica 6 graphics capabilities, use <<Version6`Graphics` .

Over 800 completely new built-in objects have been added, some of whose names may conflict with names already being used.

The output form of a Graphics or Graphics3D object is now the rendered graphic rather than an output such as -Graphics-.

$DisplayFunction is now set to Identity, so that no side effect happens by default when evaluating a graphic. To produce a side effect similar to Version 5 output, you can use the Print function to print the graphic.

So in fact DisplayFunction -> Identity is the default.

Graphics rendering was fundamentally changed in Mathematica version 6. Before that graphics output was treated specially, like a Print statement. Now output graphics are treated much the same as any other expression, and output can be suppressed with ; (CompoundExpression).

The documentation states:

Between Versions 5 and 6

The graphics functionality has significantly changed. For compatibility purposes, use <<Version5`Graphics` to restore graphics capabilities from Mathematica 5. To restore the Mathematica 6 graphics capabilities, use <<Version6`Graphics` .

Over 800 completely new built-in objects have been added, some of whose names may conflict with names already being used.

The output form of a Graphics or Graphics3D object is now the rendered graphic rather than an output such as -Graphics-.

$DisplayFunction is now set to Identity, so that no side effect happens by default when evaluating a graphic. To produce a side effect similar to Version 5 output, you can use the Print function to print the graphic.

So in fact DisplayFunction -> Identity is the default.

Graphics rendering was fundamentally changed in Mathematica version 6. Before that graphics output was treated specially, like a Print statement. Now output graphics are treated much the same as any other expression, and output can be suppressed with ; (CompoundExpression).

The documentation states:

Between Versions 5 and 6

The graphics functionality has significantly changed. For compatibility purposes, use <<Version5Graphics to restore graphics capabilities from Mathematica 5. To restore the Mathematica 6 graphics capabilities, use <<Version6Graphics.

Over 800 completely new built-in objects have been added, some of whose names may conflict with names already being used.

The output form of a Graphics or Graphics3D object is now the rendered graphic rather than an output such as -Graphics-.

$DisplayFunction is now set to Identity, so that no side effect happens by default when evaluating a graphic. To produce a side effect similar to Version 5 output, you can use the Print function to print the graphic.

So in fact DisplayFunction -> Identity is the default.

Graphics rendering was fundamentally changed in Mathematica version 6. Before that graphics output was treated specially, like a Print statement. Now output graphics are treated much the same as any other expression, and output can be suppressed with ; (CompoundExpression).

The documentation states:

Between Versions 5 and 6

The graphics functionality has significantly changed. For compatibility purposes, use <<Version5`Graphics` to restore graphics capabilities from Mathematica 5. To restore the Mathematica 6 graphics capabilities, use <<Version6`Graphics` .

Over 800 completely new built-in objects have been added, some of whose names may conflict with names already being used.

The output form of a Graphics or Graphics3D object is now the rendered graphic rather than an output such as -Graphics-.

$DisplayFunction is now set to Identity, so that no side effect happens by default when evaluating a graphic. To produce a side effect similar to Version 5 output, you can use the Print function to print the graphic.

So in fact DisplayFunction -> Identity is the default.