From: west@ponder.csci.unt.edu (Bruce West)
Subject: Re: A4000 Flaws?
Organization: University of North Texas, Denton
Date: Sun, 11 Oct 1992 19:17:56 GMT

In article <jayson.03vf@tbag.tscs.com> jayson@tbag.tscs.com (Jayson Phillips) writes:
> 
>>What the hell flaw does the A4000 have?
> 
>Compared to the Falcon at 1/3 the cost:
>    - no SCSI
>    - no DSP
>    - no 16-bit sound
>    - no MIDI
>    - no network port

   How long is goin to take you people to learn.  The A4000 Is an *expandable*
machine.  Like an IBM, it is not meant to be used out of the box (atleast, if
you're a power user it isn't).  Why compare it to the Flacon piece of crap.  The
A4000 has a SCSI-2 option, a DSP option, 16 bit-sound boards abound, MIDI boards
abound, Netorking devices abound.  Why make people who *dont need the above* pay
for it?  This logic evades me.  Give me an expandable, fast, 32 bit machine
with no bottlenecks -- I'll do the rest.   

> 
>Compared to the A3000 at 1/2 the cost:
>    - no SCSI
>    - no de-interlacer

     Once again it seems the overabundent bitchers need a lesson in Amiga 101.
The de-interlacer is nothing but a hack that doubles the rate of the graphics
produced by the stock chips.  THIS IS NOT NEEDED ON THE A4000 (for the last damn time).  Any wares that adapt themselves to OS 3.0 (and they will)  will open
flicker free screens without the need of any de-interlacer.  This is a *good*
thing.

> 
>In general:
>    - a new graphic standard with no smooth upgrade for current Amiga owners

    The graphics are 32 bit.  How the hell do you expect a "smooth" upgrade 
option for 8/16 bit machines.  You can't hold everyone back because of the     
lowest common denominator.  Can you run windows on an 8086, don't think so.
The double A chips are ECS compatable -- therefore wares can still be produced
for both machines.  But the better machines are gonna have better graphics,
that's just the way it is.

>    - too little too late

    Well, I guess you're definition of too little is:  graphic capabilities 
increased by an order of magnatude, A new OS which finially starts us on the
road the DIG (DIG should be coming out later this year).  Virtual Memory
capabilities.  SCSI-2 and DSP support.  A new processor.  Try taking a look
at how IBMs and MACs have improved -- they havn't.  Intel makes new chips,
that's about the extent of IBMs improvement.  MAC makes imitation Amiga wares
and pretends to be a multimedia machine.  It's sick.

    Anway, I think the proper way to look at a machine is to look at what it
CAN do when loaded. So let's say you pick up an A4000, SCSI-2 option, and a DSP.
Now, I'm sorry to be the one to tell you that it will FLY.  SPEED SPEED and MORE
SPEED.  In addition to that, some standard graphics that give you 256,000 colors
on screen out of 16 mil -- in any available resolution!  That's a pretty damn
good machine.  And a *retail* price of $3,500 is pretty damn cheap.  You have
to figure the price after you sell your A3000 -- you're talking about a $1,500
upgrade price, tops.  Of course, I feel sure the double A chips will be an
upgrade option for the A3000.  Anyone you says otherwise is a fool, the same
people you said "you cant use a toaster in an A3000."