From: skip@tacky.cs.olemiss.edu (Skip Sauls)
Subject: Re: I DID giev up on the Amiga!
Organization: University of Mississippi, Dept. of Computer Science
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 13:36:14 GMT

In article <9396@cbmger.de.so.commodore.com> peterk@cbmger.de.so.commodore.com (Dr Peter Kittel Germany) writes:
>In article <1992Jul18.035817.24526@qdpii.comp.qdpi.oz.au> davidme@qdpii.comp.qdpi.oz.au (David Meiklejohn) writes:
>>In article <mykes.09ag@amiga0.SF-Bay.ORG> mykes@amiga0.SF-Bay.ORG (Mike Schwartz) writes:
>>>
>>>Why hasn't CBM come up with any non-Amiga (1985), non-C64 (1981/82?), or non-
>>>IBM PC (1,000,000 B.C.) worth talking about?  Why make Unix run on an Amiga
>>>instead of designing a real machine designed to run Unix well?
>
>But do you (and all others) realize that Commodore is actually the computer
>manufacturer with the broadest palette of systems? It has *three* totally

Too bad Commodore does not adequately support all three systems.  

>different lines of systems (C64 still going, Amiga, PCs), that all need
>permanent maintenance. The price range for CPUs covers a factor of ca. 40
>(250 DM C64 to 10000 DM for a big-shot tower). You must not look always
>only at the Amiga line (though it's definitely the most attractive one :-),
>there are also others, and they *all*together* make Commodore a comparably
>strong company. And honestly, now just *another* line, horrible thought!

Agreed, Commodore cannot even support the three existing lines.  It is
incredible that the pitiful sum that Commodore spends on R&D has to be
divided among three lines.  Of course, I'd hope that little money was
wasted on the C64 line, but then again we do hear rumors about the C65,
the C256, etc. and there is that stupid "console" that was sold in the UK.

It would also be pretty stupid for Commodore to spend lots of money on
R&D for the PC line, but I wouldn't put it past them.  If anyone with a
screwdriver can put together a PC clone, I'd hope that Commodore could do
the same without too much trouble.  What are the PCs like?  Are they
compatible with other PCs or do you guys build them using funky parts like
the Amiga line?

>>They designed a Z8000-based Unix system, which was kicking around in 1985.  I
>>heard it was actually released in Europe, but I could be wrong (who, me?).
>
>No, it was never released. We had it on show on '85 CeBIT in Hannover, but
>then only ca. 20 prototypes were built and distributed to unis and develop-
>ers for testing. A few of these are perhaps still working.

Was that machine the last one to be developed at Commodore?  I know that
you guys have made minor improvements to the Amiga line that had the 
misfortune of coming under your control, but nothing really new has been
introduced.  

Whoops!  I forgot the ECS!  How ignorant of me to overlook such an innovative
chipset!  And the A2024 monitor with the Hedley Hack!  Whoa, how could I
forget the 1/2 speed high-density floppies, the BridgeBoards with their
high-res displays, and all of those 040 accelerators!

You guys sure are innovative.

>-- 
>Best regards, Dr. Peter Kittel  // E-Mail to \\  Only my personal opinions...
>Commodore Frankfurt, Germany  \X/ {uunet|pyramid|rutgers}!cbmvax!cbmger!peterk
>				   or  peterk@public.sub.org

 _____________________________________________________________________________
| Skip Sauls                | |       Head Chief Software Engineer Dude #1    |
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