From: Aric.Caley@ofa123.fidonet.org
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
Subject: Re: SKIP'S POINTS ARE *S
X-Sender: newtout 0.02 Nov  5 1992
Date: 10 Nov 92  11:10:00

> Organization: University of Southwestern Louisiana
> From: das9674@usl.edu (Stephenson Daniel A)
> Message-ID: 1992Nov10.035827.27941@usl.edu
> Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
>
> Hmm.  That is my PC-ness showing through.  To most people,
> Multimedia=CDROM.
> I do  not know of ANY CDROM multimedia software for the Amiga.

What  exactly  do  you  mean?  There are at least three different peices of
software that allow you to read CD-ROMs, in any of the standard formats.

AmigaVision  Pro  software allows playback of CD Digital Audio, and "CD-XL"
animation  files  from CD-ROM, and it can directly control video disks (the
output  of which can be genlocked, which is also supported).  I can't think
of anything else in the way of CD-ROM support that this doesnt cover.

> Personally, I do not see them inherit benefits of this so called
> 'Multimedia'
> standard.  I think it has been pretty hyped up.  I would think of it more
> as 'oohh, a CDROM with an interactive encyclopedia with
> digitized sound samples'.
>
> In other words, Mutlimedia, IMNSHO != good presentation software.  This
> show
> how C= is outta touch with what 'multimedia' is to most
> people.  When they know
> enough about multimedia to do "multimedia things", they
> won't consider an Amiga.
> MAYBE if it used a CD a lot....otherwise I just see them going and getting
> a PC.

Multimedia  is  a pretty hyped up term.  Apple and Microsoft have done most
of  the  hypeing.  Everybody has a different idea of what multimedia really
is.

> Anyway, I am referring to the 'WinTV' and 'PS/2 TV' things.  I think the
> PS/2
> thing costs more.  I don't think they have the TV as a the desktop
> background,
> but can have it fullscreen and in a windows.  The window (in Windows and
> OS/2)
> isn't resizeable...darn. ;)  And yes, the display does look a bit frotched
> in
> the windowed display, but that's what you expect resizing the picture down
> to
> 320X200 or somesuch teeny size.

But  how truly usefull is something like that?  Sure, I'd like to watch Ren
&  Stimpy  in  a  window on my Workbench...  but I can't think of very many
truly productive uses.  At least not for the average joe.

The  Amiga  doesn't currently have such a device for such a low price, but,
we have much much more powerfull devices for more $$.  IV24, Toaster, Vivid
24, etc.

> By the Way, if it only cost $10 or so more to use a ful 68020 WITH MMU...

I think it would cost more than that.

> why not?  I don't see why you ought to cripple yourself now when in the
> future
> you might want VM.  But the big question remains....DOES IT COME WITH A
> HARD
> DRIVE AND MONITOR for <$1000?!

I  think  you  just might be able to.  Haven't seen what the US prices are,
yet.

> Also, azre you _sure_ it isn't 14.33 ot 14.31 Mhz that the 68EC020 runs
> at? :-)

14.285714 Mhz.  :)

> These aren't available for PCs?  I have seem VR apps.  And
> aren't we being a bit
> selective here in what applications types we choose?  Gahh, what?! no

I think the Amiga probably has the edge with morphing packages.  Yes, thats
a  very  narrow  market,  but  you  DID  ask what the cutting edge was, and
morphing is the latest craze.

> cutting edge word processors with Unlimited Undo?! :-)

Nope.  I wish we did..

> >It does sell for $2795 and is at least equivalent to a 486-50DX2 with MCA
> >or EISA, LocalBus coprocessed SVGA, a SoundBlaster, and OS/2.
>
> Skip, are you aware of the datarates in the EISA? MCA?

Are  you aware of the datarates of Zorro III?  Its at least as fast, if not
faster, than EISA or MCA.

> LOCALBUS?  Man, Localbus
> is wicked fast.  And one thing your A4000 cannot do out of

I  would say that Localbus just might be faster than Amiga graphics (though
I havent seen anything to prove that).  Its at least equivalent.

So  as  Skip  said,  an  IBM equivalent (or close) to an A4000 would need a
486-50DX2, MCA or EISA, LocalBus coprocessed SVGA, Soundblaster PRO, 8 megs
ram  (where  the  Amiga  does  the  same in 2), OS/2, mouse, etc.  And this
machine would still be completely innapropriate for any kind of video work.

> the box: run Windows.
> (Ohh, I *knew* that would get you! ;)  )

Gack.

> Dan Stephenson
>   das9674@usl.edu
> "There once was a Lady from Hyde/who ate some bad apples and died/but
> while we
> lamented/the apples fermented/making cider inside her inside!"
>                        -Member of the Court, Texas Renaissance Festival

 - Dances With Coyotes - World's slowest programer -Given that the universe-
 ---------------------------------------------------is infinate, and god is-
 ------------ And the fat lady sings... ------------all powerful, would you-
 ---------------------------------------------------like some toast?       -


--- Maximus 2.00