From: philip@utstat.uucp (Philip McDunnough)
Subject: Some Amiga Users
Organization: University of Toronto, Dept. of Statistics
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 23:03:04 GMT

I've been following this group for a couple of years, all the time really
being on the edge of the Amiga world (have owned a CDTV for a year +1/2).
 
The composition of the readers of this group is really interesting. As far as
I can tell, you have IBM users who really wish they didn't have to use PC's
( but must because the software is there) and insist on taking out their
woes on C=. You have the occasional Mac user (such as myself with a NeXT, GS
and Mac- and a horrible 486 MPC-):) that drops in to make sure the Amiga 
is still what they think of it. You have the Unix addicts who wish only to
have Unix on a C64 and you have the Amiga users who always want more.
 
Amiga users should be happy at the A4000, A600, A570, CDTV, C= PC's (which
I have and don't care for, but it's not C='s fault). C= has a very interesting
product line. They are moving ahead with interesting graphics (as opposed to
chaos in the PC world) on the Amiga, a CD-ROM solution which will give the
Amiga probably the largest interesting CD software available. CD's have not
succeeded on any other platform. Possibly Apple's new Mac's with internal CD's
might help out, but the MPC world has been slow in taking off (probably 
because most people are still dealing with IRQ and DMA conflicts).
 
For the record, the move now to IDE on the A4000 was a very good move. SCSI's
standards are in transistion. When they settle down the Amiga can move to 
SCSI-II. Why bother with SCSI now when it's simply in transition and wasn't
meant to support many of the newer devices coming on stream. The price of the
A4000 ($3699) is excellent.
 
The issue of Unix on the Amiga is really unimportant, except for a few 
contracts. What is more important is a good implementation of X, uucp sw,
connectivity, etc...In addition, what the Amiga developers should do at
this point is come out with a word processor that can read/write WP5.1 files.
There is no word processor on the Amiga that can do technical typing, except
for the excellent AmigaTeX which isn't for everyone.
 
In short, C= has made some excellent moves. The Amiga has a great future and
people should be reassured as opposed to picking holes here and there. Nothing
is perfect. It might be a good idea to try the other platforms to see just
how nice the A4000's direction is. My own feeling is that the NeXt is the
only other elegant computer out there, but they refuse to market it as a
micro and hence it will remain a niche.
 
I really feel people who want Unix should look elsewhere than an Amiga or a 
Mac. Probably a PC is the best place to be there. As awful as that platform
is, it does have a zillion followers all worrying about EMS, extended, XMS,
etc...memory and all trying to second guess OS/2 or Windows NT. 
 
Now that C= has fixed the hardware so to speak, it's time for them to 
address some of the software holes. In particular, an academic bundle of
software (Maple, AmigaTeX,...some word processor) with the A3000/A4000 would
be great for faculty. The same with a lower end AGA computer would do fine
for students. It is essential to come in around the $1500 mark for the latter.
 
My 2 canadian cents worth.
 
Philip McDunnough
Professor of Statistics
University of Toronto
philip@utstat.toronto.edu
[NeXT and other mail accepted]


Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy