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From: dlt@lando.la.locus.com (Dan Taylor)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
Subject: Re: 80386 BridgeBoard
Message-ID: <15884@oolong.la.locus.com>
Date: 21 Aug 90 21:02:03 GMT
References: <1694@kirk.nmg.bu.oz> <26965@pasteur.Berkeley.EDU> <2220@impch.imp.com> <38229@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> <13900@cbmvax.commodore.com>
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I, personally would like a BridgeBoard that cost no more than a clone
motherboard, plus comparable RAM and equivalent display adapter (VGA?).
That's about $600 for a 16MHz -SX, with 1 Mb and VGA, $800, or so, for
a 20MHz "real" 386.  The 8088 BridgeBoard wasn't too badly priced, but
I already had "Transformer", so I had no use, and no desire to pay for,
another 5-1/4" drive.

As for the 32-bit vs. 16-bit '386 debate, unless you plan to "live" in
the '386 (maybe you should just buy one?), why do you need the extra
PC-DOS performance and the higher price.  Intel's ad that the '-SX' is
a "zillion" percent better is true, in that there are now '386-specific
programs.  So, I could see paying a premium for an -SX over a '286 (I
know, the '286 BridgeBoard is lots more than $600-$800.  That's why I
don't/won't buy one), but I wouldn't get enough extra utility from a
32-bit '386 to pay more for one on a BridgeBoard.

As for UNIX, why not continue to pester CA for UNIX V.4 on the A3000
and A2500/30?  I saw an Alpha 2 release running at the USENIX Conference
in Anaheim.  I WANT it.


* Dan Taylor    * The opinions expressed are my own, and in no way *
* dlt@locus.com * reflect those of Locus Computing Corporation.    *