From: u9148043@cs.uow.edu.au (Justin Jay Lister)
Subject: Re: Oh my God! Help my friend not buy an IBM!
Organization: Dept of Computer Science, Wollongong University, Australia
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1992 04:38:56 GMT

lionel@cs.city.ac.uk (Lionel Tun) writes:

>In article <root.02qj@rkamiga.UUCP> root@rkamiga.UUCP (Rick Kelly) writes:
>>One of the reasons that people feel that they have to run MSDOS (blech!) is
>>that it is entrenched in universities.  In an EE course, FORTRAN compilers
>>are important, and probably attainable through student discounts.  If a
>>course requires that documents be delivered on floppy in MS Word format,
>>then an Amiga won't help.  If circuit design requires the use of specific
>>CAD software, then the Amiga won't help.

>Well I am given to understand that Wordworth 2 can output in MS Word
>format - I'd have to check it out specifically. Then using CrossDos
>you just hand in your floppy.

I wouldn't go comparing amiga wp against Ibm ones, see we don't understand
for anything to be "slightly decent" in there realm it needs to be at
least 20 meg, require huge hd to store our software and have every feature
know to man since we picked up a stone axe thrown in. With arexx you can taylor
the word processor to your own specific needs (why get 90% more that you may
only use 5% of the time for all that extra cost). This idealology has
come from the likes of there MR B Gates and co. The more they beaf up there 
program size the more they can ask for it. Look at there OS's, then 
they go on about our pathetic toy like software/OS. It seems to get alot more
done much quicker than they could manage, No stop give me the microsoft word
I want to sit and read a 100000page manual for a word processor (hehehe I don't
even read the amiga manuals there is know need). Oh yeah and you have to
pay for that huge pathetic manual (and I bet it ain't cheap). 
	Then you go on about your superior hardware, like hardware is hardware
you will find much the same on most machines (though some of it isn't as 
limited as others). Amiga hardware is slightly more expensive in some areas
but that is due to a smaller market demand. But I don't think that is justifi-
cation that yours is better. Cost is alot to some people (me for instance) 
but that doesn't stop me owning an amiga(actually 2 -though I have to save
up for a new aga machine, but I am waiting for a tower machine). I don't really
care if you think your machine hardware/software is superior (what saying it
justifies it, and makes you feel secure, well go ahead say it again). I don't
care if I could have a cheaper Ibm clone (My friend has a beefed up super 
giant 486 - so I don't need one). I can't see what is so great about some
nice hardware all thrown together as so limit itself to hell. At least the
amiga market has some open-system, modular design. It is has some really
nice hardware/software if you don't believe me then that is your problem
and you haven't been involved enough in the amiga scene (which is another
greatness of the machine). Yes the people who own amiga's are very defensive
about there precious machines, it is a part of them (I wish I lived in germany
the amiga scene there is like no other computer following in the world). Coming
from the US (where IBM have far greater dominace in numbers (that is about all
they dominate 8) )) I can understand some of the opinions of the people there.
For those of you who haven't been able to get involved with the amiga scene
and those in it, it is an amazing group of people that makes the amiga 
and its niche markets live on. Amiga will be around for along time, it is the
underdog - but will not be conjuered, especially when it has followers that
are so dedicated to it. You can have your Ibm scene (is there one hahah),
what a group of secreties that copy files in MS word. If you want a computer
just to use to do some spreadsheet then use the IBM. If I ever need to use
a spreadsheet I will buy an IBM. I wont add wp because I dont need MS Word to
get some decent work done (I have had/used it and it doesn't impress me).
Though I am sure there are those of you who like to sit and wait for hours
while you try to get a thing done, go gettem your MS Word while your there
get MS windows. But be warned you have to get your super-powered 486 on its
crappy system architecture (unless you have your super wages to buy something
of a decent bus system). Yeah I liked the comment a while ago about IBM market
developing the local bus idea. Geez and developing multimedia. Hmm and
as for state of the art, yeah I see the amiga pushing in many directions. Show
me the virtual reality developments on IBMs hahah.
And for the person who thinks the amiga has no decent hardware expansion, let
me see your 160MFLOP gfx gards(vivid) your OPALVision (Aus designed). Yeah
I like all your brilliant morphing software, and the scenery animators you
copied from over here. I see ibm as good for lax business needs (keep cobol
and memo sending away from me). Any new decent software/hardware creativity
shows up in the amiga domain first. We invent it you get lame versions of it
later (ok so you get it cheaper - if you ain't willing to pay the price to be
involved in a computer like the amiga that is your problem). And for all
the problems the amiga has, glad they there. We will need something to do in
the middle of all this creativity. If you wanna jump on the kick amiga to 
death bandwagon remember that the amiga market is made up of mainly 
computer hardware/software gurus (they do work on all systems then amiga is
there pet system). You can call it a toy but it ain't no LAME IBM. (HHEHE I
really don't dislike IBMs that much they are ok machines, but I wouldn't own
one without owning an amiga).

Forget what the crowd says, Amiga is an impressive, remarkable machine. And
I am proud (even though I dont live in the amiga heartland of europe) that I
have been involved in the amiga scene. THANK GOD FOR IRC.

>>The purchase of a computer for college work is controlled by the constraints
>>of the school that you are attending.  Unfortunately.

Nah I get buy with my amiga, though all I need to be able to do is write a
few C,C++,Asm progs. This my amiga has no problem performing.

>The Amiga can overcome those constraints :-)
With the following it has it can overcome all constraints .

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AMIGA FOREVER!

>--
>Lionel Tun   (lionel@cs.city.ac.uk)
>Vision Group, City University, London, EC1V 0HB. 071-477 8000 x 3889
-- 
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