From: tevonian@sumter.cso.uiuc.edu (Pete Tevonian)
Subject: Re: Buying a multimedia system
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Sat, 5 Sep 1992 04:54:22 GMT

dudley@cebaf4.cebaf.gov (John Dudley) writes:


>Hello! 
>   2. The MacIntosh dealer told you wrong when he said there were more
>Multimedia software available for the Macintosh than for the Amiga.  The
>Amiga was designed from the ground up as a multimedia platform.  That is
>why with an Amiga, you get direct NTSC video output, nice, smooth
>animation, and a Multitasking operating system.

I don't believe that you get NTSC output standard in the Amiga 2000 or
3000 any more. The 1000's had it, but I believe you now need a Toaster
or DCTV like device to get NTSC. I may be wrong about this (I don't have
one in front of me) but none of the 2000's or 3000's we used last year had 
NTSC output directly from the machine.

>	As for hardware, you have the professionally used Video Toaster(and
>many others).  You also have various 24bit graphics boards, Video
>Digitizers(color), Scanners, Audio Digitizers, etc.

The DCTV is 21bit, if I remember correctly and does do a good job of
rendering NTSC output. The original poster was looking for animation
straight from Hard Drive. I don't think the DCTVs can do that, at least not
without some more help (either software or hardware). In my computer
animation courses last year, we were limted by the 9M RAM in the 3000's we
were using. 

>   4. Unlike the Mac or PC, the Amiga uses standard NTSC video output,
>and meets broadcast quality specifications. No need to worry about a converter.
See Above Comment

On the Video Toaster -- I think NewTek raised the price of the toaster
to somewhere near $2500 last year, did they not? This may be a list 
price, however, and it may be had for less. The Toaster is a wonderful
piece of equpiment though. If you plan to expand your system later, it
may be worth it to buy a 2000 (The Toaster won't fit in a 3000) now and
use a DCTV until you get up funds for a Toaster.

>   7. Lastly, I do warn you that on September 11th-13th there is a World
>of Commodore show in Pasadena California.  There, Commodore is expected
>to release their latest machines, AmigaDOS 3.0, and something called the
>AA chipset, which is an enhanced Amiga custom chip set that will
>eventually be the new standard for Amiga's (24bit graphics, CD quality
>sound, etc.)  Even if you are not interested in the new Amiga stuff (the
>older machines will be compatible with it), wait until after the show to
>purchase your Amiga.  After the show, prices will probably drop for the
>older machines.

This will be interesting to hear about.
 
>   Check out your local BBS's and see if you can find an Amiga Users
>Group to go to... There, they will be happy to demo off the only machine
>in the world a person could possibly get attatched to!

Heh, people get attached to all sorts of things. :) Even PC clones and
(Heavens forbid) Macintoshes. 
 
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>   // John Dudley        dudley@cebaf4.cebaf.gov
> \X/  AMIGA: The creative computer for the creative mind.


--Pete Tevonian
  tevonian@sumter.cso.uiuc.edu