| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 2905.1 | lots of questions! | LEDS::ACCIARDI | | Mon Sep 11 1989 00:12 | 212 |
| > I'm contemplating buying a new PC for home use. I've short listed three
> machines:-
>
> AMIGA 2000, MAC SE(maybe SE/30) and the ACORN ARCHIMEDES 420
> Machine requirements:-
> a) Reasonably fast CPU (for our US friends the Archimedes is
> rated about 4 - 8 times as fast as the 68000 - and it's
> claimed to be the fastest PC in the world - with its ARM RISC chip
> it's rated at 4 mips)
Amiga: The A2000 can be supplied with 68020 boards from Commodore, CSA, GVP
and Ronin. A good 14.3 MHz board with 32 bit memory will boost the processing
power by a factor of 4 over a stock 68000 model. 25 MHz 68030 boards are
available from GVP, Ronin, and Commodore. The 68030 increases speed by another
2-3X or more.
Mac: The newer Macs (SE/30 and IIcx) come with 16 MHz 68030 processors.
Note: Don't be fooled by processor speed and specsmanship. The Amiga
custom hardware runs in parallel with the CPU, offloading the manipulation of
windows and screen graphics. The result is that a $500 Amiga 500 seems to
perform as well as a $6000 MacIIcx, at least in graphics operations. In
reality, the standard Amiga, Mac SE, Atari ST and IBM/AT all have similar
processing power, but the Amiga FEELS quicker. Little touches like a hardware
sprite for the mouse cursor help, since the CPU doesn't have to redraw and
erase the pointer a zillion times a minute. Sliding a screen down (something
that would KILL any of these other machines, assuming they could even be
programmed to do it) happens like grease on the Amiga.
Acorn: Never used (or saw) an Acorn, so no comment.
> b) Support for at least 2MB memory and ability to expand
Amiga: All Amiga models can be expanded to 9 MBytes of memory; 1 meg of
graphics memory and 8 megs of expansion. This memory is auto-configuring.
Plug it in and the system detects it and maps it in.
Mac: The basic Mac SE can handle 4 MBytes. Don't know about the II/IIx/IIcx
Acorn: No comment
> c) Minimum 20MB hard disc and ability to upgrade or chain extra
Amiga: The basic A2000HD comes with a 40 MB drive. AmigaDOS supports drives
of virtually any size. You won't soon run out of disk memory. There are
literally dozens of SCSI disk controllers to choose from; I'd recommend a true
DMA controller like the MicroBotics HardFrame.
Mac: The SE comes with 20 or 40 MB drive. Easy to add any SCSI drive thru
it's built-in SCSI port.
Acorn: No comment
> d) At least 1 parallel/centronics and one serial RS232/RS423 port
Amiga: Both the A500 and the A2000/A2500 have these included. Plus (2)
joystick ports.
Mac: No comment
Acorn: No comment
> e) Minimum of one 3�inch floppy disc drive - ability to read and write
other machines disks an advantage.
Amiga: All models come with (1) 880KB (formatted) floppy built in. AmigaDOS
supports up to (4) of these drives.
Mac: (1) 800KB floppy included. More can be added.
Acorn: No comment
> f) Support for ethernet interface
Amiga: Ameristar supplies an Ethernet card for the A2000/A2500.
Mac: I would assume so.
Acorn: No comment
> g) Support for hardware floating point processor
Amiga: AmigaDOS detects the presence of a math chip and uses it if the
application calls the soft MATHIEEE libraries. If the application uses it's
own integer math, the IEEE library (or math chip) is not accessed.
Mac: I believe they use a similar technique.
Acorn: No comment
> h) Good quality display modes i.e. minimum 640x256 pixel
resolution, 80x25 lines in text, with strong preference for colour at least
able to display 16 out of 4096 at min. resolution. Able to support high scan
rate monitor
Amiga: Standard (default) resolutions are categorized as any combination of
hi-res and/or interlace; ie...
640 x 200 w/2,4,6,8, or 16 colors from a palette of 4096
640 x 400 w/2,4,6,8, or 16 colors from a palette of 4096 (interlaced)
320 x 200 w/2,4,6,8,16,32, or 64 colors from a palette of 4096
320 x 400 w/2,4,6,8,16,32, or 64 colors from a palette of 4096 (interlaced)
HAM mode uses the custom copper chip to allow all 4096 color to be displayed on
screen at once in 320 x 200 and 320 x 400 resolutions.
In addition, the Amiga supports overscan resolutions of up to 704 x 480 pixels.
This completely eliminates the border around the display area and is important
for recording to videotape.
The interlaced graphics modes flicker (to varying degrees, depending on color
selection) when using a standard 15.75 KHz horizontal scan monitor. The
flicker can be eliminated by using a long persistance monitor or by buying a
MicroWay deinterlacing card. This card combines two interlace fields and
increases the scan rate to 31.5 KHz (which is the standard VGA/MacII rate).
Moniterm is shipping a 1008 x 800 greyscale monitor for DP use. Retail price
is around $2000.
The new Enhanced Chip Set (not yet available) will offer a 4 color
non-interlaced 640 x 480 'productivity' mode which will require a multisync or
VGA monitor (31.5 KHz).
Commodore has announced a 24 bit (16 million color) 8 bit plane card for the
A2000/2500 that will display 259 colors at once. Not yet available in the US.
Mac: SE display is 512 x 342 monochrome, but there are many 3 rd party cards
for driving higher resolution mono displays. The MacII series default to 640 x
480 in monochrome, but there are a wealth of video cards that offer 16 and 256
and 16,000,000 colors from Apple and 3 rd parties. I believe that the Mac II
comes with NO video card, not even mono. You have to pay extra for the lowest
common denominator. Software support for all these different displays is
rumored to be quite good due to religeous adherence to Apple programming
standards.
Acorn: No comment.
> i) Sound: minimum 2 channel and preferabley able to support text to
speech
Amiga: Built in custom sound chip; 4 voices, 2 RCA stereo jacks. 8 bit sound
in stero, built-in OS text-to-speech conversion.
Mac: The newer models now have a custom sound chip that (I think) is not too
different from the Amiga's, but may have a faster sampling rate. The new
machines have stereo out jacks.
Acorn: No comment.
> j) Preference for multi-tasking OS with WIMP interface
Amiga: Still the only PC with a built-in multitasking OS. It is now quite
robust after a few shaky years, and enhancements in the next year will put it
still further ahead of the competition. WIMP or shell-driven interface.
Mac: Multifinder is a hoax! No real multitasking, now or in the near
future.
Acorn: No comment.
> k) Ability to support/emulate IBM PC would be an advantage
Amiga: 100% IBM/XT compatibility via the A2088 BridgeBoard; basically an
entire PC/XT on a card with some brilliant software enhancements that allow the
Amiga to run DOS at full speed on a window or in a custom screen. Data can be
shared between the two systems. Also available is an 80286 version of the
bridgeboard.
Mac: No comment, although I'd be surprised if something similar didn't
exist.
Acorn: No comment.
> l) Must have room for future growth and not be already
architecturally senile!
Amiga: The OS can use 68000/68010/68020/68030/68040 chips from Motorola.
Mac: Some problems with older software running on '020 and '030 machines;
good developer support will fix things quickly.
Acorn: No comment
> m) Give 0-10 score for how much the standard machine configuration has
of the above,
Amiga: 10 points - looks to me like you pretty much wrote the spec for the
Amiga 2000 or 2500 (the A2500 is exactly an A2000 with a Commodore supplied
68020/68881 board and hard drive)
Mac: Other than multitasking, the Mac can easily be configured to meet your
specifications, but I bet the price will come out 30-50% more than the Amiga.
Acorn: No comment.
> n) Give 0-10 score for how easily the standard machine can accomodathe the
non standard/missing requirements.
See above...
One final comment before I burn out... the Mac almost becomes a moot point,
since ReadySoft supplies a hardware-based Macintosh emulator that uses genuine
Mac ROMS. Compatibility is quite good except for MIDI applications and
software that violates programming ettiquette and plays with the Mac hardware
in non-legal ways. I believe that you can buy an entire A-Max package,
including ROMS and a Mac floppy, for about $500.
Ed.
|
| 2905.2 | | LEDS::ACCIARDI | | Mon Sep 11 1989 00:25 | 21 |
|
One more comment, then off to bed...
I'll make a prediction: Every single person in the Mac notes will tell
you that the Amiga is a toy and that you shouldn't even consider one.
In a few cases, this is pure Amiga-envy, but it's generally ignorance
of anything Amiga-related. Listen to what they tell you about the Mac,
which they understand. Don't listen to what they tell you about the
Amiga, which they don't understand.
The same goes for us in Amiga-land.
Finally, wise people will tell you to decide which software you need to
use, then buy the hardware that runs the software. If all your choices
meet your software requirements, then get a good long demo of each
machine from a knowledgable salesperson. Multi-vendor dealers are not
the best place to get an unbiased opinion, since salesmen have their
pet machines.
Good luck.
|
| 2905.3 | Relatively Unbiased Opinion.... | SHIRE::FITZGERALD | Changing the rules... | Mon Sep 11 1989 05:20 | 37 |
| As a Mac AND Amiga 2000 owner, I can add a few comments:
Good luck with BBC BASIC on either!
The Mac is MUCH easier to use and to learn. No CLI to learn.
The real issue is software. The Mac has far far superior business,
presentation and DTP software available. It is also far more expensive
than the vaguely equivalent Amiga SW. The Amiga has much much better
games SW. There's no real substitute for colour in games! I've played
Flight Simulator on both. I'ts a real bore on the Mac.
Output devices are another issue. If you plan on using a B/W laser printer
or B/W impact printer, colour on screen is only a gimmick. The Mac+
and SE have 72 DPI screens. This means that you really get what
you see on the screen when you print. The normal, low res Amiga
screen is quite disappointing for WYSIWYG.
The cost of a MAC is about double that of an Amiga. A MacSE (20)
with imagewriterII sells at discount in Geneva for about SFr6500.
I bought an Amiga with colour monitor and 24 pin Epson for Sfr2990.
No hard disk though.
The A-Max Mac emulator does not support the use of a hard disk and
has buggy printer emulation for 9 and 24 pin Epsons..
I'm buying one, however.
I only originally bought the Mac because I could get it at a 60%
discount. Don't all phone, I can't get it any more. This is why
I bought the Amiga after my divorce (the ex has the Mac).
Neither will please the UK schools system. I suppose they are using
IBMs and Acorns. Archimedes seems fast, reasonably priced but without
much software. Acorn used to have a very very bad service reputation.
I don't know if it has improved.
|
| 2905.4 | A small correction | VANISH::RICHARDSON | jR - UK VANS. DTN 774 6172 | Mon Sep 11 1989 05:41 | 18 |
|
A small correction to :-
"a) Reasonably fast CPU (for our US friends the Archimedes is
rated about at least 4 & 8 times as fast as the 68000 - and it's
claimed to be the fastest PC in the world - with its ARM RISC chip
it's rated at 4 mips)"
It should read:-
a) A reasonably fast and efficient CPU.
For our US friends the ACORN Archemedes has an ARM RISC chip set
which is rated somewhere between 4 and 8 times faster than 68000,
at 4 mips; the makers claim it's the fastest PC in the world. Measured
with the BYTE benchmarks it's second only to a CRAY!
|
| 2905.5 | Has BBC emulator. | SUBURB::MCDONALDA | Old Elysian with a big D.I.C. | Mon Sep 11 1989 09:49 | 27 |
| I believe the Amiga has a blindingly fast BBC micro emulator. I
have a report of it somewhere. Apart from 'dirty' software, it ran
all BBC micro software. Part of the demo showed that even running
four BBC applications in four separate windows, the Amiga was still
faster than the venerable BBC micro.
From what I've heard, the Archimedes has a 'pig' of a user interface,
is damn tricky to write applications for, but is great for techies.
In a few more years, it may have a decent selection of software
and peripherals. However, I suspect that it will occupy a niche
market.
The Mac is a good machine, but very over priced. As you know, its
a deliberate policy in the UK.
I like my A2000. My wife loves the user interface. We have it connected
to work via a modem, and the VT200 emulator (available over the
net) works a treat.
Another factor that may sway you is the X-windows software for the
Amiga. As soon as I get my act together, and a budget, I shall be
testing its serial line capabilities. If all goes well, I should,
depending on BT, be able to run DECwrite, etc from home over a modem
line!!
Angus
|
| 2905.6 | | MQOFS::LEDOUX | Reserved for Future Use | Mon Sep 11 1989 15:22 | 30 |
|
As for the Amiga-Mac war, I would let the bucks talk.
If you want to do business related work (AKA $$$), I would
*NEVER* go with the amiga. The average quality/service
etc is worst than radio shack.
The MAC are more expensive, true, but just feel the mouse
and you will see the quality right there.
The MAC is for business ONLY. The amiga does not have the
(Black & White) resolution needed for some work related
applications.
If you want to play games AND can afford to live with few software
bugs, poor service and so-so harware quality, go for the Amiga.
(That's what I did and don't regret it).
My brother (who take ALL his income from a MAC) would NEVER go
for the Amiga.
My last comment is also language related, the MAC OS / most
applications are available in foreign languages. Forget it
for the Amiga. (They are telling me the french-canadian
keyboard is due out since the 2000 is out, but I have yet
to see it...)
The MAC is definitely more professional, the Amiga more fun.
No offence!, Vince.
|
| 2905.7 | You won't be sorry! | SMAUG::SPODARYK | Sick for toys! | Mon Sep 11 1989 19:27 | 65 |
| Ed had given some real good information in his replies. From what
I have read the Acorn is a fine hardware base, but the total lack of
software pretty much leave the battle to the Mac .vs. the Amiga.
This has been discussed before, and I even asked the same question
when I bought my Amiga about 1 year ago. The Amiga is the clear winner
in terms of price/performance. Everything that Ed has mentioned
(the custom chipset, the multitasking OS, the upgrade paths, etc)
make it a really impressive machine. However, if you're buying a
computer for a business, currently the Mac is the best choice, due
to it's fine business software base.
If you're buying it for home usage that includes, DP, programming,
games, and cost _is_ an object - then the Amiga is the clear winner.
Desk Top Publishing? Check out Paul MacDonalds Ham radio newsletter.
You (and the Mac owners) will be amazed at the high quality.
Importing images is a snap, due the the consistent set of tools
to operate on IFF images. A technical writer friend (occasional Mac
user) was suitably impressed.
The Amiga is a really remarkable creative platform. Are you planning
on doing any computer art? Ray-tracing? Animation? Music? Digitizing?
Software Development? Buy an Amiga!
There are quite a few very good VT220 emulators, with more on the way.
The ones that I use are Shareware. The Amiga has a really fine
Shareware and Public Domain base. I use a lot of this type of
software, not only because it's cheap, but because a lot of it is
quite good. I've seen a lot of Mac PD software, and most of it's
lucky to finish without crashing. Fred Fish does an excellent job
of compiling and distributing the best Amiga PD software, which
is probably responsible for the higher quality.
If you or your son's are planning on doing software development - C
is the Amiga's native language. I think Lattice C 5.0 is a really
great product. They also offer C++, which is also highly regarded.
It comes with Basic. Fortran, Prolog, Lisp, Pascal, etc, are available.
Games? What do you think. Nothing else even comes close, in terms
of intellectual or shoot-n-destroy type games. Using a VTxxx type
terminal, you can make your Amiga a multi-user system. How about
doing some editing/programming while someone else is playing a game?
Do you need/want X-window's at home?
I can't comment on the educational software. Not nearly as good as the
Mac's I would wager.
Not knowing your exact budget, I don't know what you can really afford.
An Amiga 2000 with a good controller/HD, Multisynch monitor, and a good
selection of software will run you $2500-3000. You then have a great
base on which to build. Adding more RAM, a 68020/030, ethernet,
extra serial ports, Flicker Fixer, Digitizer, etc, etc, is a snap.
(provided you have the money, of course :^)
I'd say that your needs match up almost exactly with what an Amiga can
give you. Anything it doesn't give you out of the box, you
can always add. Like a PC/AT or a Macintosh. Buy an Amiga!
~Steve
-- Don't get the impression that you have to add. As is, it is a very
useful and impressive machine. It is nice to know that you are not
limited when you buy it, and that it can grow as your needs change.
You're not locked into limits on processor power, RAM, etc.
|
| 2905.8 | I can't be objective | SALEM::LEIMBERGER | | Tue Sep 12 1989 07:35 | 17 |
| When I went shopping for a home system my determining factor was
cost.I quickly found out that it does not matter how much more some
systems offer if you can't afford them.The uses you mention appear
to fall right in line with the Amiga.we have to take into account
the extras needed to fill out an application.I feel that my 2000
has the quality needed for any application,but admit some software
is not yet mature enough to meet heavy business needs.Of course
many other systems offer the stability many business users look
for most notable the Mac,and IBM's.The reality of life however is
'back up your software'regardless of system you own.If this is done
properly on say an amiga,but neglected on a Mac then who is working
in the better business enviorment.Before you spend a dime go out
and try all the makes you can.Then make a list of the software titles
you need for each make system an total the cost.At that time you
should know what you want,and how much you need to spend.The bottom
line is "Your the one who has to live with it".
bill
|
| 2905.9 | Where to find the other comments | VANISH::RICHARDSON | jR - UK VANS. DTN 774 6172 | Tue Sep 12 1989 09:54 | 15 |
| For those of you interested in the comments from the two other
notes conferences, you can find the original note posted in:
MOSAIC::MACINTOSH note 2973
BOMBE::AMIGA note 2905
TRUCKS::ACORN_MICROS note 267
For those interested in more information on the Archimedes see notes
170, 186 224 233, 257, 260, and 263 in latter conference.
ps My thanks to the editor of the Amiga conference for some responsive,
excellent and objective comments.
|
| 2905.10 | PAL resolutions. | AYOV28::ATHOMSON | C'mon, git aff! /The Kelty Clippie | Wed Sep 13 1989 07:04 | 24 |
|
�< Note 2905.1 by LEDS::ACCIARDI >
�> h) Good quality display modes i.e. minimum 640x256 pixel
�Amiga: Standard (default) resolutions are categorized as any combination of
�hi-res and/or interlace; ie...
�
�640 x 200 w/2,4,6,8, or 16 colors from a palette of 4096
�640 x 400 w/2,4,6,8, or 16 colors from a palette of 4096 (interlaced)
�320 x 200 w/2,4,6,8,16,32, or 64 colors from a palette of 4096
�320 x 400 w/2,4,6,8,16,32, or 64 colors from a palette of 4096 (interlaced)
�
�HAM mode uses the custom copper chip to allow all 4096 color to be displayed on
�screen at once in 320 x 200 and 320 x 400 resolutions.
�
�In addition, the Amiga supports overscan resolutions of up to 704 x 480 pixels.
�This completely eliminates the border around the display area and is important
�for recording to videotape.
Just a point, these numbers are for NTSC (US) machines, as you are
on a UK node, I presume you will be going for a PAL (UK) machine,
where these numbers become 320 x 256, 640 x 256, 320 x 512, 640
x 512 and 704 x 280 - 704 x 560 for overscan.
Alan T.
|
| 2905.11 | my two cents | GLDOA::STOUGHTON | | Thu Sep 14 1989 11:47 | 10 |
| One other thing to keep in mind.......
The Amiga has now sold 1 million units. This means that software
developers will see a profitable market and you then will see improved
software for business applications.
Just look at the increase of software overall in just 2 years time!
For what its worth
|
| 2905.12 | | LEDS::ACCIARDI | | Thu Sep 14 1989 13:48 | 9 |
|
In another 'good news' development, Commodore will financially back
selected developers who would like to start an important project. This
is a first for CBM, and is more like an Apple/NeXT tactic.
I also read in COMP_SYS_AMIGA that Microsoft and Lotus would like to
port to the Amiga if hardware sales can justify it.
Ed
|
| 2905.13 | | ULTRA::KINDEL | Bill Kindel @ BXB1 | Thu Sep 14 1989 14:55 | 7 |
| Re .12:
> I also read in COMP_SYS_AMIGA that Microsoft and Lotus would like to
> port to the Amiga if hardware sales can justify it.
That's good news. Of course, those who just can't wait can run MS/DOS
software to their hearts' content using the BridgeBoard on an A2000.
|
| 2905.14 | Once more around the mulberry bush | SUBURB::PARKER | ESCAPE - 8 days to go and counting | Wed Mar 13 1991 05:24 | 20 |
| With any due apologies, I am going to resurrect this topic.
I am contemplating spending some of my redundancy money on a computer,
mainly for the benefit of my children, although I expect I will play
with it as well. The monst - er - darlings are 10 and 8 years old.
British schools use mostly a mix of antique Acorn BBCs with Queen Anne
legs, and current model Acorn A3000s, so my first thought was one of
them, currently being marketed with an educational package called
"Learning Curve".
Then some teachers I know said I should get an Amiga 500, on the flimsy
grounds that it had better graphics, a good BBC emulator, available IBM
PC emulation (which is one of my requirements), and compatibility with
the scool systems does not really matter, and it will do the little
b****s good to get familiar with a different machine.
As a total non techie, my brain is now totally banjaxed. What do I do?
Why? Will I understand?
Steve (a totally confused Brit)
|
| 2905.15 | DIRTFT | ULTRA::KINDEL | Bill Kindel @ LTN1 | Wed Mar 13 1991 10:46 | 64 |
| Re .14:
> With any due apologies, I am going to resurrect this topic.
We don't mind. We LOVE talking about our favo[u]rite computer. 8^)
> I am contemplating spending some of my redundancy money on a computer,
> mainly for the benefit of my children, although I expect I will play
> with it as well. The monst - er - darlings are 10 and 8 years old.
> British schools use mostly a mix of antique Acorn BBCs with Queen Anne
> legs, and current model Acorn A3000s, so my first thought was one of
> them, currently being marketed with an educational package called
> "Learning Curve".
Acorn systems are unavailable in the U.S. so I can't speak to relative
features or software availability. Though you might consider you're
buying the system for your children, you WILL discover its usefulness
for the things YOU want/need to do. For example, if you get a modem
and one of the several decent VT100/VT200 emulation programs that are
available as "shareware" (the author requests a nominal fee for his
efforts) for the Amiga, you'll have access to the great wealth of
freely-distributable software (i.e. the entire set of Fred Fish disks
containing games, utilities, etc.) that are available through the ENet.
> Then some teachers I know said I should get an Amiga 500, on the flimsy
> grounds that it had better graphics, a good BBC emulator, available IBM
> PC emulation (which is one of my requirements), and compatibility with
> the school systems does not really matter, and it will do the little
> b****s good to get familiar with a different machine.
I'd suggest the "A1500", which seems to be a cost-reduced A2000 aimed
at the U.K. market. Add the A2091 SCSI disk/memory controller (or
equivalent) with at least a 40MB drive and a second MB of memory. That
will bring you to a total of 2MB (3MB is better), which is a nice
configuration. For PC compatibility, you can add a "BridgeBoard" or
possibly the German ATonce board.
Good quality graphics and sound capabilities are standard equipment, so
you WON'T have to pay for accessory boards that may or may not be
supported by all software. In addition to an excellent selection of
high-quality games, there are plenty of educational programs (does
anyone actually BUY them or do we just point and wave at them to assure
parents that they aren't throwing money away on a "game machine"? 8^)
and good "productivity" (word processing, desktop publishing,
spreadsheets, et al) software and "creativity" (2D/3D drawing,
sound/music creation/MIDI sequencing, "multi-media", et al).
The Amiga has a well-designed operating system that provides both true
multi-tasking (so you can be downloading a Fred Fish disk from the
network, while in another window you're decomposing the previous
download into separate directories and files, while in yet another
window you're updating your spreadsheet, while in still another window
your word processor is printing a school report).
> As a total non techie, my brain is now totally banjaxed. What do I do?
> Why? Will I understand?
In the long run, you'll be MUCH happier if you DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST
TIME. That may imply a larger investment at the outset, but it also
means you'll be spared later frustration over some limitation that
might be imposed by starting "on the cheap". That's why I'd suggest
the A1500 over the standard A500. I have the latter and love it, but I
also live with several limitations on future growth that I could have
avoided by buying an A2000 at the outset.
|
| 2905.16 | Soapy endorsement for A500 | STAR::ROBINSON | | Wed Mar 13 1991 10:57 | 28 |
| Go for it! What else did you expect us to say? ;-) ;-)
Seriously, I think there is no computer out there that is inherently
more appropriate for a home computer than the A500. When you start
adding requirements that include emulating much less capable machines
the "idealness" issue gets cloudy. I believe you will find that the
A500 is a good deal even if you add a PC hardware emulator like ATonce
and use the BBC emulator(s?). You have to choose your tradeoffs.
In my opinion, the people who get all excited about $1200 386 clones
for a home computer are looking for power in the wrong places, or
looking to stock up on stolen software (from the office or friends).
To make one of those clones into a decent home computer you need to
add a sound card, mouse, windows software and maybe extra graphics
boards (forgive me if I don't know what color capabilities a $1200
clone offers). The amiga 500 has a slower processor but includes
the features that a home computer needs at a very reasonble
starting price.
A lot of people think a home computer should let them do a little
extra work at home, so it has to be compatible. In my opinion, again,
a home computer is not about extending your day job into the evening.
The main goals should be enjoyment, learning, creating, and generally
expanding the horizons of a family.
Of course lots of people buy things using false justifications.
Dave
|
| 2905.17 | Another .02 | TLE::TLET8::ASHFORTH | The Lord is my light | Wed Mar 13 1991 11:27 | 9 |
| Of course I endorse the previous replies, but...
To really seal the deal, I'll bet you can find some local Amigans who've put
together an *Acorn emulator* for the Amiga! (If not, you can have the
project...) Just think: you can do all the neat stuff only the Amiga can do,
with a "virtual Acorn" running in one of your windows...
Cheers,
Bob
|
| 2905.18 | | LEDS::ACCIARDI | | Wed Mar 13 1991 13:12 | 25 |
|
As one who has owned several Amigas and now owns a top-end 386 Clone, I
can add a unique perspective.
The Amiga is about the best choice as a home computer, if we define a
home computer as follows:
* Has a wide selection of entertainment and home management software.
* Has a very impressive lowest common denominator for graphics, sound
and overall speed.
* Is reasonably priced.
A PC Clone and a Mac both satisfy my first requirement, and the Clone
certainly satisfies the third, but it's the second criteria where the
Amiga stands head and shoulders above the others. I think that
software developers tend towards the lowest common denominator machine,
which in the case of the Mac, is a B&W Classic, and in the Clones is a
12 MHz 286/VGA machine. A stock Amiga (any model) can run rings around
either of these while doing the things that one would expect a home
computer to do.
I am using my 386 purely to get work done, but when my boy gets a
little older, I'll probably buy some form of Amiga for him.
Ed.
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| 2905.19 | Maybe an acorn.... | MADRE::MWM | | Wed Mar 13 1991 19:33 | 20 |
| First, a generic comment - if you don't know what you need, buy as much
computer as you need. The reason for this is that if you buy more computer
than you need it means you paid to much to get the facility you've got. If
you buy to little, then you paid money for something that's worthless, and
the latter is generally considered to be worse than the former.
I poked a little at the Acorn when I bought my Amiga 3000. From what I heard,
it was a hot machine. More CPU than the Amiga, and they had already dealt
with the need for more resolution in the graphics. On the down side, you
couldn't put enough memory in them to make me happy (4 meg max), and the
graphics memory was lifted from the available memory. This not only cut into
your system memory, it cut into the bandwidth for same.
The real killer was that I would have had to order it from the UK. Since that's
not a problem for you, you might want to take a serious look at it.
One thing that didn't worry me much was the lack of a software base for the
Acorn. You probalby want to take a closer look than I did, though.
<mike
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| 2905.20 | I say chaps, thanks awfully. | SUBURB::PARKER | Paene ultima die | Thu Mar 21 1991 04:58 | 8 |
| Thank you all for your advice.
I am still confused. I think my decision is to wait until I know what,
if any, equipment my new employers will provide at home. Then I will
find some dealers who can provide a demonstration of the various
contenders - which will include both A500 and A1500.
Steve (Still confused Brit)
|