From: Roger_Nordin@atb.bbs.bad.se (Roger Nordin)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
Subject: Is it silly to buy a
Date: Fri,  9 Oct 92 21:30:32 +0000
Reply-To: Roger_Nordin@atb.bbs.bad.se (Roger Nordin)
Distribution: world
Organization: ANet Test Bench, Karlstad, Sweden 
OD-Comment-To: Internet_Gateway

> >   No.  The A3000 is far more advanced than the A4000 in terms of non-
> > interlaced display resolution.
> 
> No, it's NOT.

I guess he ment "non-interlaced interlaced display resolutions" above.

> The A4000 also has:
> 
> 8 bits in all resolutions.

More colours, yes.

> 262144 colour HAM in all resolutions.

More colours, yes.

> AmigaOS 3.0

Which can be run on any Amiga, especially the A3000 considering that 
developers are running kickfiles with 3.0 since day 1 of the beta versions.

> 25Mhz 68040 on a replacable module.

Can be added to the A3000, at a total cost less than the A4000.

> Graphics modes that on the A3000 would be real slow, are faster on the
>   A4000; such as 640 x 400 x 16 colours.

Yes, this is true. However, many applications runs just fine with four colours.
It's a matter of which applications you intend to use.

> Memory upgrades with SIMM modules.

Which does not seem to be such a big advantage to me. A3000 supports 
motherboard memory upgrades too. Up to 16Mb, just like the A4000. No wonder, 
since both has the same RAMSEY (except for some minor updates/bugfixes in the 
newer revision).

> 5.25" drive bay.

True. However, you forgot the other list: What the A4000 does =not= have, that 
the A3000 have:

o Fast and flexible SCSI host adaptor that interfaces with a wide range of 
devices, such as more than two harddisks, tape streamers, flopticals, CD-ROMs, 
WORM drives, scanners and more.

o Flicker fixer that allows the wast array of applications that use Hires/
Interlace to output a non-lace video signal suitable for other applications 
than just video work, such as DTP, word processign, programming or just about 
anything else than video work.

If you say "but those can be added to an A4000", then I must add this one for 
you:

o Four 32-bit Zorro III expansion slots.

If you add a SCSI and/or a flicker fixer, then you are left with three or just 
two Zorro III slots. The A3000 have all four slots free, as these functions 
are located right on the motherboard.

AmigaOS Release3 can be added, no problems. With a 25Mhz '040 board, an A3000 
is still much cheaper than the A4000 -- and it has all the above features, too!
The only thing missing is the extra colours and the update speed in some of 
the screen modes (of which you seldom use anyways, considering that the A3000 
has got a flickerfixer, which allows at least 724*568, which is about what you 
can comfortably view on an 14" monitor).

So, what's the point? The point is that it is not *obvious* that the A4000 
would be an upgrade to the A3000 in some peoples eyes, as some people seems to 
take for granted. The A3000 is a more "balanced" system in my eyes. The A4000 
is more focused on graphics, especially video work, and seems to sacrifice 
other areas of the system design. One area that particluary annoys at least me 
is the 2Mb CHIP RAM limit. The A4000 introduces screen resolutions which 
consumes four times as much memory, but does not offer any more CHIP RAM to 
store those four times a large screens in. I never run out of CHIP RAM on my 
A3000 during normal operation, but I can easily use 1.5Mb CHIP RAM. There's 
not much left, but it's enough. But what about if I started using an A4000? 
Then I would probably be using more flashier colours in most places, thus 
eating up much much more CHIP RAM. 2Mb would suddenly not be enough for normal 
operation -- at least I would feel the limit, and would be annoyed.

When the A4000 comes with 8Mb CHIP RAM and on-board SCSI host adaptor, then I 
will admit it's an "obvious upgrade" as compared to an A3000. By that time, 
more applications might have surfaced that supports Double-PAL screen 
resolution, too, making that approach to a flicker free display more useful.

Until then, the A4000 seems to me like a design not quite finished yet, 
something rushed out the door too quickly.

Oops. Just realised I have written three articles today regarding the same 
subject. Sorry. I thought I might help to show a different angle on this 
discussion. I'll end here, unless someone has any specific questions about my 
postings of course...

                        _       .    __
    Roger Nordin     _ //      /!Net /est Bench
 2:203/602.0@fidonet \X/  Internet: Roger_Nordin@bad.se

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