From: skip@tacky.cs.olemiss.edu (Skip Sauls)
Subject: Re: Amiga 4000/Atari Falcon
Organization: University of Mississippi, Dept. of Computer Science
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1992 14:08:13 GMT

In article <1992Aug21.045839.25478@qdpii.comp.qdpi.oz.au> davidme@qdpii.comp.qdpi.oz.au (David Meiklejohn) writes:
>In article <1992Aug20.133716.23943@ra.msstate.edu> skip@tacky.cs.olemiss.edu (Skip Sauls) writes:
>>In article <1992Aug20.035014.22539@qdpii.comp.qdpi.oz.au> davidme@qdpii.comp.qdpi.oz.au (David Meiklejohn) writes:
>>>In article <mykes.0cwe@amiga0.SF-Bay.ORG> mykes@amiga0.SF-Bay.ORG (Mike Schwartz) writes:
>>>>

(stuff deleted)

>>I've been accused of the same thing,
>
>Not by me.

Sorry if it sounded like I was implying that you were.  I have received
email from bozos telling me that if I don't like the Amiga, why don't
I just buy a PC.  If I didn't like the Amiga, I would not have spent
>$3000 on my A1000 system and >$4000 on my A3000 system.  I plan to 
spend as much or more in the next few months on a new system and would
love for it to be an Amiga, but my pockets have a hole in them and I'll
jump ship if C= does something stupid.

>>but believe me I still use and like
>>my Amiga very much, but I want something better.  If I were the type to
>>be satisfied with old technology, I'd never have bought an A1000 or an
>>A3000.
>
>That's true of many of us, particularly in the early days.  I'd like to think
>that I've never been an Amiga fanatic - just a technology fanatic, even to the
>point where I care less about applications and end-use than I would if I were
>more pragmatic about it.  If something better comes along, I'll jump ship
>quick smart.

I'm guilty of wanting to have the best computer on the block.  For a while
last year my A3000 was one of the faster machines in this department, but
it has been surpassed by the onslaught of 486s.  I used to brag about
having faster transfer rates than anything but the Suns, but the 486s can
go twice as fast as the A3000, even with their ISA buses.  :-(  Having
the "bestest and the mostest" may be a frivolous reason for wanting a new
machine, but that is how I am.  

>>I believe that many Amiga owners in this country just want a little
>>assurance from C= that there is a future for the machine in this
>>country.
>
>Surely the fact that they're introducing new machines into the US market must
>help there.  Even the fact that they're advertising, even with stupid prices,
>is reassuring (a little bit, anyhow).

I'm still skeptical about them actually releasing something new.  I've 
received literally thousands of lines of text detailing the new machines
via email, but given all the rumors, my own included, I don't know what
to believe.  I've got a free ticket to fly anywhere in the US and have
considered going to the Pasadena show if I can get someone to teach my
classes while I'm gone.  But I don't want to go and then find out the
new machines are the A600, the A3000T, the A2000HDA, and other such
pitiful things.

>>If the specs for the AA chipset and the
>>new machines are true and the price is right, I'll buy one.
>
>ditto.
>
>>But if C=
>>thinks that I'm going to pay $6000 for an A3000T with the same audio and
>>video capabilities as my old A1000, their nuts.  If I were to spend $6000,
                                      ^^^^^ oops!  they're

>>I'd be better off getting an unbelievable clone or a Mac Quadra.
>
>Even here in Autralia, I can buy a 486 with 4 megs, 80 meg HD, 1 MB SVGA and
>monitor for about US$1800, although in practice I'd prefer to spend more and
>get better quality.  But I could certainly buy top-notch clone with EISA,
>SCSI, OS/2, the works, and have quite a lot of change out of $6000.

Probably enough for a nice 17" monitor, SoundBlaster Pro, CD-ROM, and
lots of nice software.

>On the other hand, and one reason I'm still optimistic, I could buy an A600HD
>for $899 (US$650), add a monitor, and come out with a better machine than a
>super-cheap 286 for about the same price.  So, the new systems may be priced
>reasonably.  We'll see.

If the prices posted here recently are close to the actual prices, C=
may have trouble making enough machines to satisfy the demand.

>>>I can tell you what I'm going to be doing - I'm going to buy one of the new
>>>systems when they appear (assuming the price is reasonable).  I plan on using
>>>Amigas for years to come, and look forward to the introduction of new
>>>technologies, such as RTG, in the not-too-distant future.
>>
>>Hey, me too!  My boss and fellow grad students think that I'm nuts, but
>>I'm putting away money now for an A3400.
>
>You just have to have faith, brother...  (This IS a religion, isn't it?  :-)

Ugh!  Reminds me of a roommate I had in California who was employed
by Apple as an Evangelist.  Come to think of it, I have seen a book
called the Macintosh Bible also...  :-)

>>I'm giving them till the end of the year, you still doing the same?
>
>That's what I said months ago - still true.  I've said that I don't like
>clones, but I'd still buy one if there's no Amiga alternative.

I don't really need to buy a clone as my boss will pretty much buy me
whatever I want for development work, but as I've said earlier I do
want something new.  (Re-reading this, I realize that I'm setting myself
up for being accused of having small-genital syndrome and having to
have a fast computer to feel better :-))

>>I think that you, Mike, Marc, Colin, myself, and others all want the same 
>>thing, we just have different ways of dealing with our frustration.
>>a shame that persons as talented as Mike is are migrating to the PC, but
>>the blame lies with C=, not the users.  If C= continues with their idiotic
>>policies, I fear that we'll see more posts like his instead of less.  :-(
>
>Of those you list, I don't know about Marc (who does?  - sorry MB!  :-), but
>you, Colin, and me at least are all looking forward to new Amigas, but ready
>to bail out at any time.  So, there could be quite a few "Why I'm giving up on
>the Amiga" posts soon - from me even.  I'm not there yet, though.

I really hope that this does not happen.  This is probably the last
chance that Commodore will have to make or break the Amiga, I just
hope that they decide not to kill it.

>David Meiklejohn                  | Internet : davidme@qdpii.comp.qdpi.oz.au
>Computer Systems Officer, QDPI    | Fax      : +61 70 92 3593
>Mareeba, Australia                | Voice    : +61 70 92 1555

Skip Sauls
skip@tacky.cs.olemiss.edu