Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!decwrl!mcnc!uvaarpa!vger.nsu.edu!manes From: manes@vger.nsu.edu ((Mark D. Manes), Norfolk State University) Newsgroups: comp.multimedia Subject: Re: CDI questions Message-ID: <651.27bcf03a@vger.nsu.edu> Date: 16 Feb 91 12:41:30 GMT References: <573@hydra.bucknell.edu> <1991Jan15.040230.26507@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca> <639.27ba5a65@vger.nsu.edu> <1991Feb15.141309.6025@cbnewsh.att.com> Distribution: na Lines: 95 In article <1991Feb15.141309.6025@cbnewsh.att.com>, rkl@cbnewsh.att.com (kevin.laux) writes: > In article <639.27ba5a65@vger.nsu.edu>, manes@vger.nsu.edu ((Mark D. Manes), Norfolk State University) writes: >> >> PC and Mac, PC and Mac. Complete ignorance of what is true competition. >> Neither the Mac nor the PC have truly viable multimedia platforms. I >> find it interesting that you are completely ignoring the significance >> of Commodore's CDTV unit. >> >> You folks wonder why Amiga people are so "defensive". You see, in a market >> nearly created by Commodore the only machines mentioned in a message like >> this is PC and Mac. Ignorance is bliss I guess. > > Not at all. CD-I is neither PC or Mac, but a standalone box whose > main purpose is to deliver multimedia. > > As for why PC and Mac are always mentioned, well, the Mac has had > tools for audio and video production/editing for several years. PC because > of the installation base. Why would I want to buy *another* computer system > so I can have multimedia (after I've already spent thousands of dollars on > hardware and software) when I can readily buy a little more hardware and > software for my PC? Amiga has had tools since its creation in 1985 for both audio and video production. I grant that the software was at the weak side then, but it certainly is no longer. At the end of your message you say "Amigas do multimedia", if you had said that in your initial message you would not have gotten a message from me claiming "blinders are installed". Anyway, I am certainly not going to try to start a flame war as to which system has a "viable multimedia platform" as my last message indicated. I will say that viability is often equated with affordability. > > There are lots of people bringing multimedia to businesses that > already have PCs. And one of the big selling points is that just by adding > a CD-ROM drive and an add-in card, you too, can have multimedia. You get > a bigger bang for the buck (and believe me, businesses are watching every > penny!) I might say that if you need to add sound and if you need to add some more special hardware to bring your video to a NTSC standard for overlaying laser disk output, and if you need a genlock you could have purchased an amiga and more than likely all the support hardware that you need. > > Multimedia for the Mac has great potential because they have a large > share of the educational market. Multimedia presents a wonderful way to > enhance the learning experience. Ah, but you forget that most folks don't have the Mac II line as their "educational" macs. More often than not you find the monochrome macs. Monochrome and multimedia don't go together in my book. > > I disagree that neither the Mac nor the PC have truly viable > multimedia platforms. What makes you say that? What can you do on an > Amiga that you can't do on a PC or Mac? There has to be an incredibly > significant advantage to make people switch. After all PC does multimedia, > Mac does multimedia, Amiga does multimedia, CD-I does multimedia, and Bo > does multimedia ;-). Before I answer, let me ask what software are you planning to use on the PC? How much is this software? Are you going to use a laser disk for video? Which genlock are you going to buy? And finally, what will all this cost? Rough estimate please. I know Bo, he _does_ do multimedia! :-) :-) I am trying to point out that market share in my opinion has little to do with such a growing, vertical market. In this case the older technology systems (like PC) will have a hard time coming up to what can be done easily, inexpensively and professionaly on the Amiga. I am not a raving Amiga lunatic like so many you may encountered. I understand Amigas weaknesses but I do know its strengths. I believe that all the other microcomputer platforms are lightyears behind what a Amiga can do with AmigaVision, a inexpensive genlock, internal sound, laser disk and the video toaster. > > -- > ________________________________________________________________________________ > > R. Kevin Laux Email: rkl1@hound.att.com > AT&T Bell Labs Voice: (908) 949-1160 -mark= +--------+ ================================================== | \/ | Mark D. Manes "Mr. AmigaVision" | /\ \/ | manes@vger.nsu.edu | / | (804) 683-2532 "Make up your own mind! - AMIGA" +--------+ ==================================================