From: johnsd2@vccnw01.its.rpi.edu.its1 (Daniel Norman Johnson)
Subject: Re: EGGPLANT, IMPLANT, EMPATH, BLAZEPLANT..
Reply-To: johnsd2@vccnw01.its.rpi.edu.its1
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1992 02:52:40 GMT

In article 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:
>>Also, does this A3000/Emplant system have:
>>  *built-in Ethernet
>>  *accelerated 24-bit color w/ the addition of VRAM SIMMs
>>  *three NuBUS 90 slots
>>  *built-in sound input
>>
>>If not, then the A3000/Emplant system is a less than Quadra-level machine
>>for these reasons as well.
>>
>>Jess Holle
>
>	First of all, an A3000 can be found from Creative Computers for 
>$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,
>UU has promised NuBus adapter cards that fit internally, since NuBus is
>smaller than the slot bay.

Cool. A3000s are cheap, alright. Id rather have NuBus slots- even
just 3 of them- than that combination. Sounds nasty to me, particularly
the XT slots.

>	24 bit graphics boards cost as little as $400.

Built in on the Quadra (but you need VRAM to use it, and how much
depends on the monitor size)

> Sound input costs as little as $60.

And is built in on the Quadra..

> Ethernet is not used by most home users, and is available,
>as well as AppleTalk (comes with Emplant) ports. 

All built in on the quadra (but you need a weird adapter for the
ethernet anyway)

>	Does a Quadra have IBM slots in it?

Do you mean ISA, EISA or MCA? :) Thanks, but Im glad it DOESNT have
IBM slots in it. NuBus is far, far better.

> Does it use IBM compatible
>peripherals,

No, but that's no great loss.

> or do you notice how all the ports support Apple's own greedy
>standard

How slimey you make it sound! But better this htan the "standard"
IBM-Clone Disas.. I mean method.

Besides, its not like only Apple make peripherals for Macs.

> (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)?

No, I didn't. They certainly dont do that now.

> Does
>it have an accelerator slot?

I dont know. I think so. At least, the 900 and 950 have PDS slots
you can use for an accelerator. The 700 may, I dunno.

> Does it support the Video Toaster?

Yeah, sorta. There's a Mac toaster, but Ive heard its really
an amiga-on-a-card. Wheeee. But then, we could go use Mac software
for this.

>Does it
>output to a VCR or TV?

It requires additional hardware- the Mac does not natively speak
NTSC. (which is usually good, but is bad if you want to output to
a VCR or TV)

> Douse it have two, count 'em, two joystick ports?

I could be REALLY obnoxious and say it has 16 (or 8?), but that's
not quite fair. It has 1 (or 2?) ADB ports, which can support 3
peripherals each (or 16 in theory, but without an amplifier the
signal degrades too much)

>Does the software cost under $500?

Some does, some don't.

> Does the hardware cost the same as
>IBM compatible hardware?

'Fraid not (unless you pick expensive PC compatibles)

> Does it have true pre-emptive multitasking?

It does if you use A/UX, but normally no. Does EMPLANT?

>	The Mac costs too much for me. God, ProWrite 3.3 was just released
>and I have seen it advertised for under $100. And don't forget Sculpt 4D,
>which only cost $400 on the Amiga (not a few thousand with less features).

I didn't even know "Sculpt 4d" had been released on the Mac. But
if hte Mac's too pricey for you, don't buy one. :)


---
			- Dan Johnson
And God said "Jeeze, this is dull"... and it *WAS* dull. Genesis 0:0

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