Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!ncar!tank!gargoyle!ddsw1!corpane!sparks From: sparks@corpane.UUCP (John Sparks) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga Subject: Re: Amiga OS 2.0 on an A500 Message-ID: <1757@corpane.UUCP> Date: 2 May 90 14:22:48 GMT References: <17840@snow-white.udel.EDU> <90117.121053UH2@psuvm.psu.edu> <134943@sun.Eng.Sun.COM> Organization: Corpane Industries, Inc., Louisville Ky Lines: 56 cmcmanis@stpeter.Eng.Sun.COM (Chuck McManis) writes: >Reality check : >The Amiga 500 and the Amiga 2000 are the "same" machine. One of the >problems for Commodore has always been trying to convince people they >really should pay $1000 more for the same machine in a bulky box with >slots and a detached keyboard. Many people balked at that since they >felt they were being ripped off. Fine, that's ancient history. Now >2.0 comes out and Commodore possibly sees it as an opportunity to >make people feel less ripped off. Instead of "and you get a bulky >box and some slots!" it now reads "all that _and_ 2.0." Boy! Chuck, this sure is a negative sounding posting for you. There is one major difference between the 500 and the 2000 that will make it more difficult to upgrade the 500 to 2.0: The 2000's have 1 meg standard on the motherboard and the 500 only has 512K. That means that the 2000 is more prepared to use 2.0, in that just having the new Agnus and Denise and ROMs and you have 2.0 on a 2000. On the 500 you have to do some work to get 1 meg of chip RAM. The expansion memory (if I remember right) is configured as FAST RAM even if you have the 1 meg Agnus. So there will be have to be additional work to be done in order to upgrade the 500 to 2.0 >The point is that at least now you can see what your "extra" money is >buying. Commodore is not likely to say "You can't run 2.0 on your Amiga >500." But they are certainly likely to say "We won't sell you an Amiga >500 with 2.0 as 'standard equipment'." Unless the 2.0 operating system works with only 512K CHIP RAM, (in which case, my original paragraph above is wrong, so ignore it :-), CBM will have to start shipping 500's with 1 meg in order to give 500 owners 2.0. Not too likely unless mem prices fall some more. I remember reading that there is some room on the motherboard for an additional 512K though. I hope CBM does start shipping 2.0 with all new machines (500's, included) otherwise we might not see too much new software taking advantage of 2.0. After all, programmers will want to make sure their software works with all Amiga's so as to maximize their sales. And if they can't count on a majority of machines out there having 2.0, they won't support it. >-- >--Chuck McManis Sun Microsystems >uucp: {anywhere}!sun!cmcmanis BIX: Internet: cmcmanis@Eng.Sun.COM >These opinions are my own and no one elses, but you knew that didn't you. >"I tell you this parrot is bleeding deceased!" -- John Sparks | D.I.S.K. 24hrs 2400bps. Accessable via Starlink (Louisville KY) sparks@corpane.UUCP | | PH: (502) 968-DISK I'm the person your mother warned you about.