Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!tnc!m0154
From: m0154@tnc.UUCP (GUY GARNETT)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
Subject: Re: EXPLAIN DIFFERENT AMIGA MODELS
Message-ID: <664@tnc.UUCP>
Date: 11 Jan 91 15:46:04 GMT
References: <1991Jan10.032717.21126@eagle.lerc.nasa.gov>
Reply-To: m0154@tnc.UUCP (GUY GARNETT)
Distribution: na
Organization: The Next Challenge, Fairfax, Va.
Lines: 45


Ok, running from the top on down:

The Amiga 3000 is the top of the line machine.  It is a 68030 (does it
come with a 68882 as well? ... I think so) machine with a nice looking
small footprint case and acceptable expansion options.  It comes in
two clock speeds with several hard disk options.  Soon you should be
able to get one with AT&T Unix SVR5 on it.  If you want to use the
machine for serious work (or serious play ;) like ray-tracing or
software development, this is the machine for you.  Get it if you can
at all afford it.

The Amiga 2000 is in the middle.  It comes with a 68000 (running at a
relatively modest clock speed by today's standards).  The machine is
almost infinitely expandable, with lots of slots and available options
(from simple memory and hard disks all the way up to a 50Mhz 68030
board).  Lots of configurations are available.  This is a good machine
for almost anything unless you are really tight on money, or are
buying a machine to play games on.

The Amiga 1000 has a keyboard garage, and is considered obsolete by
Commodore (but not by me ;).  Almost impossible to expand, but can be
had second-hand for little more than a song.  If you are a fanatic,
and like hacking hardware, consider one.  It's showing it's age, but
there's a dance in the old girl yet (LUCAS, FRANCES, ReJuvenator,
Xetec HD ... you can still do some stuff with the machine).  Not
recommended except for the die-hards.

The Amiga 500 is at the bottom.  In its base configuration, it has a
68000, 512k RAM, and one floppy drive.  The good news is that the list
price for this is $499 (street price should be lower).  Expansion
options are limited (a hard drive and some memory are about the best
you can do).  Like the 1000, lots of hardware hacking is possible
(MegaMidgetRacer: 60830 w/ 4Mb RAM) but not worth the effort.  Good
entry level machine (I would buy one for a kid in a minute) or as a
game machine.

For playing games, you will want 2 floppy drives and 1Mb ram as a
minimum.  For serious play, programming, or most other uses, consider
a hard drive (at least 40Mb, 80 is much better), 1Mb chip ram (Amiga
500P, 2000, or 3000; the 3000 can have up to 2Mb chip ram), and 2 or
4Mb of Fast (expansion) ram.  For heavy work, the 3000 is the best
bet, with 2Mb chip ram and as much fast ram as you can afford.
 
Wildstar