Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!pt.cs.cmu.edu!andrew.cmu.edu!eb1z+ From: eb1z+@andrew.cmu.edu (Edward Joseph Bennett) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc Subject: Re: The Amiga 3000--what does it mean for the Mac? Message-ID: Date: 6 May 90 23:18:55 GMT References: <20660@eagle.wesleyan.edu> Organization: Class of '91, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA Lines: 69 In-Reply-To: <20660@eagle.wesleyan.edu> >What do people think about this machine? On the cover of Byte the byline is >"Mac II power...at a Commadore price". From what I can tell, this just might be >the case. It has a '030 running at 16 or 25 mhz, enhanced special chips for >everything from DMA to graphic acceleration. It comes with 16-bit (I >think-4090 colors) >color *standard*, though it cannot be upgrade futher (at least, not with any >ease), yet how many people would just like *some* color and don't really need >24-bit color (after all, up until recently, a Mac II could only access 8-bit >color--256 colors at one time). Question: Does Commadore offer any additional educational discount? If not it won't have much impact on the educational (higher education) market because I can get at Mac IIcx for $2724.00 or a 25MHz MacIIci with built in 8 bit video for $3658.00 Some comments on the A3000: 1) It is 16 MHz, not 25 MHz. So it is more akin to a IIcx than a IIci 2) I read the article in Byte also and I thought they said it was 6 bit (64 colors) out of a choice of 4090 and it is not (a least not straightforwardly) ugradable (I'm sure there are ways around it). If this is true, then I would say this is its biggest weakness (especially considering it targeted for multimedia) 3) It's support of premptive multitasking is probably one of its strongest points. Some more questions: _ just to what extent can Amigas emulate Macs? I Think the Atari ST can do a pretty good job of emulating a plus from what I hear. If it can only emulate a Plus then I don't think it will carry much weight as far a clone goes. (Especially since it looks like the Plus's days are numbered, It would really have to be able to emulate the MacII seris to be a serious low cost clone.) Also: Could Mac applications take advantage of its multitasking capabilities? - Does the Amiga have any slots? If so how many, what kind (are the compatible with NuBus?) and what's available for them.) I would like to get to play with one so I could evaluate its GUI in comparison to the Macs. I think the real question is: Will Apple deliver any time soon on any of the low cost machines that I have been hearing about. Ex: '020 Modular Mac with built in 4 bit color for $1500 with a Apple IIe compatable card and possiblely an optional CD ROM built in. I've also heard rumors of '030 machines in $2000 range. If Apple is really diverting attention to the low cost market like they say and really deliver one of these rumored machines this fall. If Apple gives us one of these machines then I think they will minimize the impact of the A3000 and we may be talking about the impact of the low cost Mac on the Amiga, PC /DOS machines, Atari, etc. If not the Amiga could potentially do damage (or potentially help if it a true clone) if Apple is just talking about low cost machines. The ball is basically in Apples court. If they deliver on their promise to devote effort to the low end then I think the A3000 will not impact the Mac, If they don't then it will have some impact. Also important: when will 7.0 make it out and how much will it enhance the Macs attractiveness. Ed P.S. I think the A3000 will impact the Apple II line and k-12 markets immediately.