Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!brutus.cs.uiuc.edu!lll-winken!cs!schweige From: schweige@cs.nps.navy.mil (Jeffrey M. Schweiger) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga Subject: Re: Amiga Ideas.... Message-ID: <963@cs.nps.navy.mil> Date: 28 Mar 90 22:32:24 GMT References: <15241@snow-white.udel.EDU> Reply-To: schweige@cs.nps.navy.mil (Jeffrey M. Schweiger) Organization: Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey CA Lines: 73 In article <15241@snow-white.udel.EDU> BARRETT%FOREST.ECIL.IASTATE.EDU@cunyvm.cuny.edu (Marc Barrett) writes: > > > With IBM, compaq, and Apple introducing powerful new workstation >systems, unless Commodore gets into shape, they do not stand a chance >in anything but the low-end home computer market. Marc - Most of us don't think that the Mac IIfx offers much more than the IIcx did, certainly not a revolutionary machine (and like most Apple products, IMHO, its overpriced for its capabilities). I'm not sure what type of 'powerful new workstation' you state Compaq has come out with, unless you are referring to high-end 80x86 machines. As for Big Blue, if you're referring to their new 6000 series, firstly that's in a totally different niche of the market, price wise, and secondly if I wanted a machine using a Silicon Graphics graphics engine (which the 6000 does), at a relatively low price, I'd look at a Silicon Graphics Personal Iris. (However, since I get to play on an Iris 4D/120GTX, hopefully to soon be upgraded to a 220VGX, I'm kind of spoiled). > > Instead of contributing trouble now, I would like to contribute >ideas. How about contributing facts, as opposed to opinions and rumors disguised as facts. Maybe then, you would be feeding a decent discussion instead of a Flame War. > There is also this small company called Digital Animation Productions >which is producing a product called the Video Transputer. The last >I heard, there are having quite a time trying to develop and market >this product themselves. Transputers (I believe all Transputer's themselves are made by INMOS, or INMOS licensees), are relatively new technology, and still somewhat experimental in nature. The first Transputer, the INMOS T414 is less than 5 years old. While I had previously heard of the proposed Digital Animation Productions product, I have seen little information about it, or any actual experience with it. The master's student who basically runs the Transputer Lab here had not heard of the product (or the company), not do I recall seeing any mention of it on comp.sys.transputer. > Then there is also the Video Toaster. I doubt NewTek would want >to be acquired by Commodore. But what if Commodore were to license >the Video Toaster, and offer an Amiga 3000 package with the Video >Toaster? I was in one of only TWO Amiga user's groups nationwide >which were priviledged to see the V.T., and it blew me away. And >NewTek hasn't been sitting on their hands with it for the last two >years, either. It is 10 times more powerful now than it was then, >and man was it powerful then. The trouble is, a lot of companies >don't like to touch third-party hardware because of the risks >involved. They'd rather go with hardware from the company that >produces the system. An Amiga 3000 package with Video Toaster would >be just what the doctor ordered for such companies. I have no intention to bad mouth NewTek. I have had excellent customer service from them. However, until it is actually released, the Video Toaster is still pretty much 'vaporware', as is, at this point in time, the Amiga 3000. While both are known to be under development, neither has been released to the public. Until these products are actually released, talking about capabilities that may or may not be part of the pre-production units, as if they will be present in the production version is probably premature. Jeff Schweiger -- ******************************************************************************* Jeff Schweiger CompuServe: 74236,1645 Standard Disclaimer ARPAnet (Defense Data Network): schweige@cs.nps.navy.mil *******************************************************************************