From: jess@gn.ecn.purdue.edu (Jess M Holle)
Subject: Re: EGGPLANT, IMPLANT, EMPATH, BLAZEPLANT...
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 92 01:22:34 GMT

In article <1992Nov12.221002.24398@sbcs.sunysb.edu> dtiberio@csws19.ic.sunysb.edu (David Tiberio) writes:
>In article <1992Nov12.133846.14559@gn.ecn.purdue.edu> jess@gn.ecn.purdue.edu (Jess M Holle) writes:

Does an A3000 have a 25 MHz 040, like the Quadra 700???

No one has as of yet answerered this question.  If it does not, then it 
is not in the same league as the Quadra, regardless of whether it has 
all the other features of a Quadra, which I gather it doesn't.

How much does it cost to take a 25 MHz 040 Amiga system (is this the 
A4000?), add Emplant, and the other essentials for using Mac software?  
Then add Ethernet, add 24-bit accelerated color (which most Amiga 
programs don't even support, as I understand), 3 NuBUS 90 slots, and 
sound input.  THIS would then be a Quadra competitor (though perhaps
not equal, depending on compatibility, support, etc).

>$1100. Second of all, who cares about 3 NuBus slots when you can get 5
>32-bit Zorro II slots and three PC-AT slots for your IBM emulators. Also,

First, who in the hell makes cards for Zorro slots, I've never even heard
of Zorro slots.  Can you get National Instruments boards for Zorro slots,
for instance?  I don't think so.

Second, who wants PC-AT slots.  Given that we are talking about a machine
in the same league as the Quadra 700 (supposedly), PC-AT slots would be
a horribly bottleneck in the system.  The throughput could not compare
with the Quadra's 20 MHz NuBUS.

In a portion of your post, which I deleted, you mention that you might 
be able to install NuBUS slots at a later date, with further developments.
Any guess as to how much will 3 NuBUS 90 slots cost??

>	24 bit graphics boards cost as little as $400. Sound input costs

I don't believe that ACCELERATED 24-bit graphics boards cost as little 
as $400, however.  The Quadra has a 24-bit accelerated graphics card.

>	Does a Quadra have IBM slots in it? Does it use IBM compatible
>peripherals, or do you notice how all the ports support Apple's own greedy
>standard (they used to give free computers to schools, but you had to buy
>the $1,000 printers and $1,000 monitors from them...what a bargain)? Does

Why would it have IBM slots in it??  There are LOTS of companies that make
cards for the Mac (including National Instruments, from above example).
Yes, the average PC card is SOMEWHAT (not all that much) cheaper and there 
are more of them out there, but I've had enough headaches with IRQ's, etc. 
on the PC for several lifetimes.  Printers and monitors are both available 
from 3rd party sources at lower prices than those charged by Apple.

>it have an accelerator slot? Does it support the Video Toaster? Does it

The Quadra 700 has 3 accelerator slots if that's how you wish to use them,
you can plug 3 Radius Rockets into the NuBus slots and blast off.  Add
Rocketshare and you have a virtual Appletalk network between 4 computers.

I could care less about the Video Toaster, personally, or built-in VCR/TV
output.  I want a workstation, not something to make videos with. Video
creation, etc. is Amiga's strongest niche, but I don't think that this
area is really all that important to the average user.  Joystick ports 
are of no interest as well.  You don't get a machine of this level to 
play games on.  That's silly.  Besides, I find the mouse and keyboard
perfectly adequate.  Joysticks belong on Nintendos.

>Does the software cost under $500? Does the hardware cost the same as
>IBM compatible hardware? Does it have true pre-emptive multitasking?

Depends which software.  All of mine does.  At least it has a wide variety
of QUALITY software.  No, the hardware does not cost the same as an IBM
compatible, but then again, neither does the Amiga's as far as I know.

For the mere $500 that you mentioned, the Mac can be pre-emptively
multitasking under A/UX.  For the average user, pre-emptive multitasking
is a non-issue.  For the workstation user, it is one, BUT a wide variety
of quality, multi-platform, high-end software is arguably more important.


Jess Holle
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.advocacy