Conference hydra::amiga_v1

81.0. "Comments wanted on system purchase" by KIRK::KYZIVAT (Paul Kyzivat) Fri Aug 15 1986 13:37

After watching this conference for awhile (and ones on the competition),
reading a couple of issues of AmigaWorld, and trying hands-on at a store, I 
have pretty much decided to spring for an Amiga.  The question now is: exactly 
which hardware and software should I start with, and where to get it?

The major use of this will be for my 10 year old who is interested in 
computers but has only had access to Apple IIs at school and the PRO350 (ugh)
that I have at home.  In addition, the rest of the family would like to dabble
with it. I would like to do some (not too serious) programming for fun, to
learn about micros, and to provide misc tools which my son might find useful
while learning.  Also, if an acceptable vt100/200 emulator is available I may
eventually consider getting rid of the PRO and using the Amiga when working
from home. 

Hardware:

  I am thinking of:

  - system box
  - monitor (sony if possible without major $ penalty,
             1080 if there is a major savings)
  - memory expansion to 512k
  - 2nd floppy drive

  I have an LA50 at home.  Can I connect it?  What kind of cable, from where?
  I also have a DF03. Can I connect it using same cables as to the PRO?
  Should I get a joystick?  (What software needs it?) If so, what kind?
  Are mouse pads useful?
  Do I need some sort of power regulator?
  How many disks will I need to get started?  What kind?
  Is there ANYTHING else (no matter how small) needed to get going?

Software:

  I am thinking of:

  - An editor (Scribble?)
  - A disk copy program (which one?)
  - A terminal emulator (are there decent ones?)
  - DeluxPaint
  - LOGO (if available, or something else better than Basic for kids)
  - A compiler (probably C, Pascal, or Modula-2.  What would be most
                generally useful?)
  - Games (What is good?  I want one of the Infocom games even though they
           don't utilize the graphics.)

  One of the animation programs would be nice, as well as a music program,
  but perhaps that can wait a bit, and something nice might come along in 
  the meantime.  (But comments on this are welcome.)

  How do I find out the most current rev level of the software so I can be
  certain that is what I am being sold?

  Again, is there ANYTHING else that is really important to have?

Where to buy?

  This seems to be a tough question.  Apparently any store with reasonable
  expertise (and many without) will be relatively expensive.  A discount
  outlet doesn't seem to offer much over mail/phone order.  I am tempted to
  try ordering the whole thing from a place like GO AMIGA.  If I do, how 
  likely am I to have hardware problems, and if so is there a reasonable
  remedy?

I am actively soliciting comments on all of the above from existing owners.
Go to it!

	Paul Kyzivat

    Save us a lot of typing, and take a look at the directory of this
    notesfile.  Virtually every question you have asked, has already
    been answered already.  There are not a lot of notes, so it shouldn't
    take long to get exactly the answers you need.
    

I looked fairly carefully at the rest of the conference before writing my 
questions, but didn't see answers to most of them.  I do realize that there 
has been discussion on things like editors, but software is changing so 
rapidly that the answers get stale fast.

In any case, one of my main concerns is completeness - finding out what I 
didn't know enough to ask.

Meanwhile, I will go back and look again for answers to my more specific 
questions.

	Paul

Well... I guess I could have looked closer.  I see more or less complete 
answers to my questions about
- hooking up an LA50
- hooking up a DF03
- terminal emulators

I also found partial answers to my questions about editors, compilers, and 
disks.

Guess I should have looked again as I was writing - I had read several of 
those answers before but forgotten.

My other questions still stand, and I am still interested in any other inputs 
on the ones which have been discussed before.

	Sorry about redundant questions,
	Paul

    Well.
    
    Dpaint is great, and a new version is coming (???when)
    buy marauder, and marauder II is going to cost you only $10
    Articfox sucks
    the sony is better than the 1080, but I have a 1080 and it's more
    than good enough
    the 2nd disk drive is a real plus
    textcraft is good
    you need a custon driver to use the la50.  I'll sned you a disk
    with one if you want.  (for cost of course)
    logo is available
    MANX C is very very nice
    ED from AMIGA sucks, and so does EDIT.  Look or make a good editor.
    Amiga Basic is so much like VAX basic it's easy for us DECies to
    use.
    Graficraft is too basic to use.
    
    brian
    
    (These opinions were mine at the time I wrote the note)

    My kids (7 and 3) love Dpaint. We've got a cheepie Okimate 20 printer
    that's expensive per print. It's around 50 cents per page for color and
    about about 8 cents a page for B/W. I bought printer with interface
    (discounted) when I bought my system for $200. Since the printer see
    occasional use, the cost is acceptable. I'm still looking for an
    inexpensive place to buy Okimate 20 supplies. 
    
    .... Rich

    I saw an ad in NewYork Times (the week of Aug 18) about AMIGA selling
    for $895. This is the same deal as was sometimes in May for $1300.
    If interested, call 1-800-221-7774. The store address is 67 W 47th
    street between 5th and 6th avenues.
    
    Good luck!
    
    
    - Virendra