Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!samsung!munnari.oz.au!bruce!monu1!vaxc!com259h
From: Bull@vaxc.cc.monash.edu.au (Gareth Bull)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: 2500UX/Purchase Query
Message-ID: <12165@vaxc.cc.monash.edu.au>
Date: 7 Dec 89 12:44:58 GMT
References: <5464@nigel.udel.EDU>
Sender: com259h@vaxc.cc.monash.edu.au
Organization: Computer Centre, Monash University, Australia
Lines: 78

In article <5464@nigel.udel.EDU>, shawn%mit-eddie%udacsvm.bitnet%CLSEPF51.BITNET@cunyvm.cuny.edu writes:

        [ I'm posting this because I *know* that mail will bounce on that
          address from here  ( Australia ) ]

> Happy Holidays to all! I wonder if someone might be able to
> help me answer a few questions I have been trying to get
> help with for a little while now about the Amiga-2500 + Unix(tm).

>         1) Seems like CBM has been promising Unix for a while,

        The A2500-UX (tm) was advertised here in Australia, Sept '88 ( or
there abouts ) running System V rev 3.2. I also heard that it was
announced in Europe as well, but I can't confirm that. I'm only guessing
when I say that a not unreasonable time to expect it will be the same time
as AmigaDos 1.4 ( but CBM haven't announced the date for that yet. sigh )

        While I'm on the subject of release dates, whats been happening with
the Amiga transputer boards ? I saw a photo of one in INFO early this year,
and that's it. I've yet to hear anything else ( I'm refering to the CBM
boards of course, so don't mail me about the Sang units. )

>         2) How much UNIX will CBM be giving us, I notice a lot of

        I never got to "peek under the hood", but I was assured by a
moderately reliable source that functionally, it was as genuine Sys V.
        The current promise is Sys V rev 4, with a WIMP interface,
called AMIX (tm?). I have no reason to believe that it will not be
pure Sys V ( with allowences for the hardware platform it will be run on )

>         3) How *Open* Is the 2500? I like to play, I mean I *Really*

        What do you mean ? The 2500 is a 2000 with an '020 board, 2 megs
of 32 bit memory and a hard disk. There are 5 ZORRO II slots ( unique to
the amiga ) and 2 XT and 2 AT slots on a seperate AT bus. Is being able to
use hardware and software from two totally different computer systems at the
same time open enough for you ?

>         4) From what I see the amiga comes with a nice amount

        Pass

>         5) It seems clear CBM won't be able to write drivers right off

        Pass

>         6) What's a minimum config look like? What's Max?

        The advertised configuration was 25Mhz '020, 2 megs of 32 bit ram
        ( on the 020 board, with space for more ) 1 meg 16 bit ram ( on
        on motherboard ) 100 meg disk and an 80 meg tape cartridge system
        ( or was that an 80 meg disk and a 100 meg cartridge system )
        Max configuration ? Lots. memory, disk space, transputers ( see 1 )
        pro quality video board. Hey C=, how about a 3000-UX, with lots 8-)

>         7) If I recall correctly, the A2500 runs a 68030 primary, and
>            so the 68000 is left doing what? Will I be able to access
>            it through a driver or such?

        When the 2500-UX does see the light of day en masse, it may very well
        be an '030 system, as CBM have announced an '030 board. The 68000
        does nothing, or at least this was the case for the sys V 3.2 machine.
        This *may* change, but thats only a guess, and wishful thinking on my
        part.

>         8) Can an individual get into the developer program? And if so, will

        Pass

>         9) Finally, I have been having lots of trouble from dealers

        Join the club ;-)

        Bull@vaxc.cc.monash.edu.au  OR  com259h@monu1.cc.monash.oz
                           Alias: Gareth Bull

Discl: I have no affiliation with CBM apart from being a satisfied user of
       their products.  all opinions expressed....etc.