From: kamchar@ibm.cl.msu.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
Subject: Quandry:  Which to buy?
Date: 26 Jan 93 00:58:45 GMT
Organization: Michigan State University
NNTP-Posting-Host: isnext15.cl.msu.edu


        To put my quandry in simple terms:  I'm looking for a computer,  
and
am not sure which one to pick up.  Therefore, I've decided to ask your
group (comp.sys.amiga.advocacy) for reasons why to buy your favored  
system.
        To help you with your sale, here is the list of items which I'm
looking for in the computer:

        Budget:  $1500-2000.
        Computer must be new.  No reason to buy something used the way
computer technology is moving nowadays.
        Memory:  4-meg plus
        Hard drive: 80-meg plus
        Sound capability:  Very important.  Want stereo capability with  
the
ability to midi to/from computer and create music with computer.
        Color: Don't care, would like 256 but I have no problem with 16 or
64 colors.  Two colors would probably drive me crazy, but if it helps me
get my Sound capability (see above), I will put up with it for some time.
Screen must be normal size.
        Multimedia:  Could care less.  Maybe in a few years I'll be gaga
over it, but now I can do without it.
        Modem:  Necessary.  2400 baud modem good, thinking about 9600 or
14,400 bauds.
        Upgradability/Expandability:  Necessary.  If unable to upgrade,
extensive expandability must be workable option.  I am thinking of using
the computer for 5+ years, then giving it to charity and having THEM use  
it
for a good length of time, so the computer better be able to handle
extensive expansions and changes.
        Notes about the user:  The user is a Mac-nut who has decided that
he cannot afford the type of Macintosh he needs for the future.  My major
software needs are Word Processing, Communications, and Music-related
programs, with Utilities, Databases, and Graphic programs needed (although
they are of lesser importance).  I would like having a choice of fonts,  
and
wouldn't mind something that is able to use the document files (if not the
programs themselves) from my Mac-formatted (1.4 meg, of course) floppies.

        Also thinking of getting the Miracle keyboard teaching system and
am curious on whether I would be able to use it for composing and writing
music on the computer with other music software.

AMIGA SYSTEM SPECIFIC QUESTIONS:

1) I've read and heard that the system program you folks use is hard-wired
into the computer.  I can see a few problems with this:
        a) How do I fight against my computer becoming obsolete when  
system
3.0 comes out?  Will there be add-ons available, or software you can use  
to
update the system?
        b) How does one add on fonts or "desk accessories" to the Amiga  
system?
        c) Can you change certain items on your desktop?
2) On the Amiga 1000/1200 systems: Can you plug them into the television
set and use THAT as your screen?  Also, can you MIDI with it?
3) I've got tons of documents (MS-Word 4.0/5.0 for Mac mainly) and  
programs
for use on the Mac.  Is there any software that allows me to read the
documents (and/or use the programs) until I have adequate programs for the
Amiga?
4) How large is the average program for the Amiga?  Will 85 meg be enough
for a hard drive, and for how long (est)?

FINAL NOTES
        Please, don't post any answers/mail meant for me in the group,
since I don't have the access to the internet (or other nets, for that
matter) to the degree which I would like.  I can do(and hope to do) two
rounds per week (you email letter, I email letter) to three or four people
from your group, so feel free to chat amongst yourselves and combine your
expertise.
        Good luck and may the best system win.  I will post my purchase in
both comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc and comp.sys.amiga.advocacy.

Sincerely,
Donald Charles Hargraves
KAMCHAR@ibm.cl.msu.edu
[Note the capitalization of the first part of the address.  I've had mail
in the past which has bounced because the sender didn't notice (or know  
of)
this.]