Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!dino!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!uxa.cso.uiuc.edu!ragg0270
From: ragg0270@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Suggestion for Scientific package
Message-ID: <46200104@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu>
Date: 22 Jul 90 16:53:00 GMT
Lines: 45
Nf-ID: #N:uxa.cso.uiuc.edu:46200104:000:1785
Nf-From: uxa.cso.uiuc.edu!ragg0270    Jul 22 11:53:00 1990



I just finished lobbying for an Amiga to be included in a grant proposal with
no success. The end result was a request for a Mac IIfx. Of course the biggest
complaint people had with the Amiga was "it has no software". Please don't
start a flame war over this, whether it's true or not, it is the perception
most people have.
So I'd like to offer a suggestion for a package I think would make the Amiga
much more attractive:

Bundle together:

Amiga 3000 @ 25 MHz w/ 100 MB HD
Ethernet hardware w/ TCP/IP software and X-Windows
WordPerfect
Maple
AmigaTEX
Absoft Fortran Compiler
Lattice C
Some resonable upgrade path for UNIX when available

Price: somewhere around $5,000 or less. I think this would really sell to us
academic types.

COmpare to the IIfx system (prices approx.)
Mac IIfx, 4 MB Ram, 160 MB HD:  $6800
13" RGB Monitor			$ 655
Keyboard			$ 150
Ethernet Card			$ 500
Video Card			$ 600
Fortran	+ C Compilers 	 	$ 500 (?)
TOTAL				$8700
Add TEX, Word and Mathematica:  $10,000 or so.

The hardware and software listing above is approx. equivalent. The Mac system
still has the advantage that additional scientific software is available, which
is why our proposal is asking for a Mac.
Still, the above Amiga system would be very competitive, I think.
I also think C= could gain an advantage by stressing the Amiga's multitasking
and versability. I use Macs and Mac IIs daily and when trying to (1) transfer 
files using FTP, (2) print documents on a LaserWriter and (3) run a plotting
program (IGOR), even a MacIIx (68030 w/ 68882 I think?) is a real slug. One
task frequently takes over the whole machine for 15+ seconds and FTP transfer 
rates are well under 1 KB/sec (from a Cray 2). Could the Amiga do better
under similar conditions? If so that alone would sell me.