From: jayson@tbag.tscs.com (Jayson Phillips)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
Subject: RE: Why A3000 Owners Are Mad
Date: 11 Oct 92 05:39:22 EST
Organization: Tampa Bay Amiga Group

on 14Sep92 13:07:53 MDT slbfn@cc.usu.edu writes:
 
>After  a  great  deal of thought, I've decided that the reason A3000 owners
>(like  myself) are pissed about not compat.  AGA is that we spend the extra
>damages  on  the  A3000  so our machine's could be upgraded.  Everything is
>32bit except the custom chip sockets.
 
I was under the same impression.  The A3000 was originally announced as the
beginning  of  a whole new line or at least a "new erra in Amiga computing"
so it seemed pretty safe to assume that it would be upgradable to the level
of the next machine in the "new erra" line.
 
>Now, after spending mucho mulanda, we find our machines to be tossed.  Most
 
Our A3000's aren't actually being tossed, but to be told that they can't be
upgraded to the level of a new machine so similar (Zorro III etc) is a real
kick  in  the  pants.  Especially after going thru this with my A1000.  For
the  first  time  (since  I  bought  an  Amiga  Jan/86)  I've  developed an
"attitude" towards CBM regarding their Amiga technology upgrades.
 
>of  us  can appreciate the "tech goes on" philosiphy, but those of us still
 
Of  course  technology  moves  on.  But the transition could certainly be a
little  smoother.   Nothing  like pissing off another segment of your loyal
user  base.   And  it wouldn't take a genius to tell any one to expect this
attitude with that (A4000) kind of an announcement.
 
>in  Gold  Service  (and have many months to go before warranty is depleted)
>are  quite upset about the loss of money.  The A4000 will push A3000 prices
>down quite a bit.
 
I  expected the A3000 prices to fall.  Heck, a month after I paid $1495 for
my A1000 (CPU) my friends were buying them for $1095.
 
>Now, the big pain is asking myself "Why didn't I get a 2500?" Much cheaper,
>and I can start saving up for the 4000.
 
I do like the color capability of the AGA but my next computer will have to
have  SCSI and higher resolution then the (current) A4000.  I'd like 16-bit
audio too though I can live with out it as the current Amiga audio is still
pretty good for lots of things.
 
>But at the decision time, all was thinking, "I'll be able to upgrade.  I've
>got Zorro III and complete 32 bit pathways."
 
And  a  CPU slot for which CBM has failed to provide anything.  How about a
68040/AGA  card  for  about $1000.  Now that would sell A3000's faster than
that (nearly useless if you're an adult) CDTV give away.
 
>I feel.....  used.
 
You  were  used  and so was everyone else who bought an A3000.  Or an A1000
for  that matter.  The A3000 and A4000 are both 32-bit machines.  Making an
upgrade  for  the  A3000 should (obviously) have been a design goal for the
next  graphic chip set.  I wouldn't necassarily expect the A3000 to upgrade
to  the next chip set after AGA but one should expect to be able to upgrade
to  at least one level higher with a machine full of slots.  Apparently CBM
expects  it's  loyal  hi-end  user  base  to  run right out and buy the new
machine.   It doesn't look like this is gonna happen.  (Not with me anyway)
But time will tell.  I still can't figure it.  If CBM made an AGA board for
A3000's  there  would  be thousands of "AGA based systems" in the field for
supporting AGA software developement in a real short time.
 
>Greetings,
>
>       Travis Carter
>       slbfn@cc.usu.edu
 
 Jay Phillips * Tampa FL
 Amiga 3000 25Mhz/105HD/10MB
 USENET: tbag!jayson@tscs.com

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