From: barrett@iastate.edu (Marc N. Barrett)
Subject: Re: HELP--AMIGA OR IBM PC CLONE?
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Date: Sun, 10 Jan 1993 18:46:01 GMT

In article <1993Jan10.112010.11073@athena.mit.edu> fihsu@athena.mit.edu (Hsu I-wei) writes:
>In article <1993Jan10.043322.7254@src4src.linet.org> scottw@src4src.linet.org (Scott Weintraub) writes:
>>First off, I want to say that about a week ago, I ordered my Gateway after
>>being a loyal Amiga advocate for many years.  Guys, they've caught up.  A
>>few months ago, we all agreed that HAM didn't cut it anymore and were pretty
>>excited about the AGA chipset which I can now say *STILL* doesn't cut it.
>>
>[stuff deleted]
>>and I doubt is fictional.  The Amiga comes with the fabulous new AGA chipset.
>>It can do 256k colors out of a 24-bit palette in 640 x 480.  It can do those
>>same colors in 800 x 600 and the ever-so-awkward 1280 x 400 but in 15KHz mode.
>>The increased bandwith on the A4000 enables it approach 30fps in 640 x 480.
>>The 4000 has 7 slots when everything's over and the Gateway has 9.  8 being
>>ISA an one local bus.  Both are desktops but for $100, you can upgrade
>
>Yes, don't forget to note that the 7 slots in the A4000 are 32-bit (which
>is vaugely comparable to EISA). 8 of those 9 slots in the Gateway are as you
>said ISA, 16-bit.
>
>>the Gateway to a tower case.  The A4000 comes with a 101-key keyboard which
>>I find slightly annoying and the Gateway has a 124-key AnyKey keyboard
>>which happens to be a joy to use.  Both include mice which are both medicore.
>>The Gateway comes with MS-DOS and Windows and of course the A4000 comes with
>>WB 3.0.  Gateway then enables you to choose from a small assortment of   
>>software.  I choose Paradox 4.0 (considered the best piece of database
>>software) and Borland C++ 3.1 (considered by many the best C compiler).
>>Gateway's cache is small.  It's only 64k but for a mere $45 you can jack that
>
>Ok, but the A4000 comes with one or two software packages itself. I forget what
>they are, but you fail to mention them for some reason.

   You conveniently forgot what they are.  They are Final Copy and ADPro.  Both
are garbage, and can't even begin to compare with Word for Windows or a 
Windows image-processing program.  (I say that ADPro is garbage because it is
a totally hands-off image processing program.  Almost everything is done 
completely blind, so that you cannot see what you are doing.  And it has no
image editing and painting features.  This is more escusable for a program
running on an older Amiga, but for a program for an AGA Amiga it is garbage)

>
>[more stuff deleted]
>>
>>Oh yes.  If you want tech support, Gateway's tech support hotline is open
>>weekdays from 6AM to midnight EST and on Saturday from 8AM to 5PM.  I can't
>>say the same for CBM who would rather our problems to be in the hands of 
>>it's dealers but sometimes offers help.
>
>C= advertises that they have a 24-hour hotline.
>Yes, the Gateway or practically any other PC clone will give you more memory
>and a bigger harddrive for less money. They also offer stuff like 30-day
>trial period, two year warranties.. but that's a result of cutthroat
>competition. Imagine if IBM was the sole maker of PCs, and then see if you
>think they'd be selling PCs with price/performance comparable to Gateway.
>
>Do you consider Apple Macs to have alot of catching up to do? Their sales
>are excellent yet they're the worst of all when it comes to prices.

   Macintoshes are attractive in their own ways.  For instance, Apple has 
been selling complete systems with the computer, monitor, StyleWriter printer,
and ClarisWorks software.  Systems like this are nice alternatives for
someone who wants something to use to get something done, and not to play 
games.  The systems come with all software preinstalled on the hard drive
and ready-to-go.  

   Commodore is caught right in the middle.  Amiga systems have neither the
out-of-the-box usefulness of the pre-bundled Macintosh systems nor the
price-competitiveness of the IBM clone systems.  And Commodore is still
especially weak in the mid-range market, where the bulk of all sales are
made.  (What does Commodore have between the A4000 and A1200?  Nothing)

---
| Marc Barrett -MB-  |  email: barrett@iastate.edu
--------------------------------------------------------------------
"No, I just think that a computer grafted on top of another computer
is a kludge.  It has nothing to do with the AGA chipset." -- me
Xref: sparky comp.sys.amiga.advocacy:32637 comp.sys.amiga.misc:19408