Conference hydra::amiga_v1

2784.0. "Should I buy an A2000?" by OTOFS::B_CORBIN (BRIAN) Mon Jul 31 1989 17:35

I will be donating my IBMPC xt clone to my girlfriend shortly and I am now
looking to buy an new computer. I do a little wordprocessing using Wordperfect,
some programming in Quickbasic. I am in the process of learning QuickC , I play
some chess using the system and have a modem for dialing into customer sites
after hours using a program called Mirror II. 

Now I would probably be satisified by getting another cheap xt clone and carry
on as usual but the XT clone is slowly becoming obsolete . If you can believe
the PC community the AT is also shortly to become obsolete. So I have priced a
few 386SX clones with 1M mem., 1.2M floppy, 40M drive,and VGA graphics which I
think would meet any of my computing needs for the next few years. This would
be also a painless upgrade since I would not need to relearn any new software
or operating system.

I have been intruged by the capabilities of the A2000 . It sounds as if the
A2000 equipped with a hard disk and controller and bridge-card and 5.25 floppy
would be priced higher even if I were to order through discount mailorder
firms. 

There are some things about the A2000 that make me consider it as an
alternative to a 386SX clone. Multitasking, graphics, sound capabilities,
quality qames,and cpu upgrade slots are all quite interesting. However there
are some reservations I have about the A2000. I'll put them in question
format so that maybe someone can comment. 
                                                                
How solid a product is the Bridge-Board? Is it difficult to maintain MS-DOS
and the Amiga file system on the same Harddisk? From reading the notes on
the Bridge-board there was some question of using the Bridge-board and version
1.3 of the operating system.


How stable a company is CBM?


I read where Wordperfect is cutting back support for the Amiga , is there
a problem with not enough good software for the Amiga still? All I see in
the local stores for Amiga are games and paint programs.
                                                       

Is the Amiga Basic as bad as the magazine articles make it out to be?
Why/whynot?
   


Anyway these are some of the things on my mind as I consider what direction
to take. I consider the 386SX pc a safe, practical approach to computing.
Considering DEC's recent anouncements it might also be a good learning platform
for DECWINDOWS etc.. I consider the A2000 as a risky venture but a fun machine
to use and to learn on. 

All comments welcome
Brian 

    
    Commodore posted a bad quarter (so did DEC), but I'm not too concerned
    about that.
    
    I don't know much about the DOS machines, although I DO like
    MS-Windows.  However, multitasking on the Amiga is much, much slicker. 
    If I had a Clone, I'd be concerned about the future of OS/2, the new 32
    bit AT buss, etc... There seems to be so much happening that it must be
    confusing to PC buyers.
    
    On the Amiga, there's not a lot of confusion (at least to me) about
    what works and what doesn't work.  I have software that's 3 years old
    and runs fine on my 68020 equipped A2000.
    
    There's probably 2000 or so Amiga titles available now, and I'd bet
    that over half are games.  However, the software that's good is REAL
    good, albeit mostly graphics/video oriented.
    
    A 2000 is a safe choice, since you could always default back to a 286
    box with some 16 bit AT slots and use the Amiga side for fun and games.
    
    For more skinny on Amiga versus the world, just do a 'DIR/TITLE=AMIGA'
    
    Ed.

    BUY IT !!
    
    The best Amiga-SW is (of course) PD.  We have more then 200 Mega-Bytes
    of Stuff available on the EASYnet, so you can satisfy yourself :-)
    with only 100-200 $ shareware donations.
    
    Ralf
    ====

	Hello,

I think the Amiga gives you "very much computer for the
money you pay". If you enjoy having a system close to a
minicomputer, buy it! There is no comparison with the PCs
at this level.
Sure the PC is fine for its available application software
but MS/DOS is far from the complexity of the Amiga system
and has a little part of its possibilities.
OS2 comes bringing functionalities already existing (and
tested) for the Amigas.
Anyway, with a 2000 you'll have a PC extension possibility.
And if you really want power why not waiting for some 2500
(or 2500UX) machines.
Amiga is a state of the art personal computer,
and has no equivalent in its class.
Sure I prefer a VaxStation, but until the day I can afford
to buy one, the Amiga makes me happy.

Best regards,
Sorin

    On software availability.. the PCs have it, true... but mostly the PCs
    have variety with the same functionality.  You could probably find between
    5 and 20 word processors for the Amiga--conversely you could find (??)
    between 50-200 (+?) word processors for the PC.  But how many do you need?
    Personally, one of everything is fine and you should find at least one
    of every application for the Amiga.
    
    George