Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!mit-eddie!rutgers!cbmvax!daveh
From: daveh@cbmvax.commodore.com (Dave Haynie)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Amiga Competitiveness.
Message-ID: <14672@cbmvax.commodore.com>
Date: 26 Sep 90 20:05:49 GMT
References: <4661@crash.cts.com> <1254@crackers.clearpoint.com>
Reply-To: daveh@cbmvax.commodore.com (Dave Haynie)
Organization: Commodore, West Chester, PA
Lines: 43

In article <1254@crackers.clearpoint.com> jeff@fang.clearpoint.com (Jeffrey J. Griglack) writes:
>In article <4661@crash.cts.com> seanc@pro-party.cts.com (Sean Cunningham) writes:
>>In-Reply-To: message from WHE46@ccvax.iastate.edu

>A faster 68020, even with 16 bit data access, is a reasonable alternative
>to the 68000.  It may be time to retrofit the 2000 with an '020 and an
>MMU so there can be memory protection.  

From Commodore's point of view, it would be cheaper to build a basic 68020
machine than to build a basic A2000 and then add in a coprocessor board.  At
least, the finished unit would cost less -- witness the A3000 vs. the A2500.
However, there are other considerations.  How may machines do they expect to
sell?  Is there something an '020 box could give you that the A2000 + '020
doesn't?  Etc.  You have to justify the new product and the expense it takes
to design it.  There are quite a few considerations.  One of the reasons the
A2000 and A3000 have Coprocessor slots, designed specifically to support new
and faster processors, is that we like to offer a CPU upgrade to a system
without requiring the user to buy an entire new system.  If you design in
such upgrade potential, there's often very little difference in CPU performance
between the upgraded generation N machine and the basic generation N+1 machine.
Things like performance enhancements in other areas, time, number of computers
you're making, etc. help define where exactly you go to the next system
generation.

I wouldn't expect to see any new '020 + 68851 MMU machines from anyone, ever
again.  The cost of the '020 + '851 is now more than the cost of the '030,
and even if the '020 cost starts dropping to zero, this is probably still
going to be the case.

>I do not see an '020 card addition as a good alternative.  It cheaper to 
>fit the '020 onto the mother board.  What do you say, Commodore?

For the owner of an A2000, the add-in 68020 or 68030 is always going to cost
less than the equivalent in a complete new system.  

>Jeff Griglack             |  Now I quess I have to tell 'em that I 
>jeff@fang.clearpoint.com  |  have no cerebellum -- The Ramones


-- 
Dave Haynie Commodore-Amiga (Amiga 3000) "The Crew That Never Rests"
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	Standing on the shoulders of giants leaves me cold	-REM