Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!mcnc!uvaarpa!vger.nsu.edu!manes
From: manes@vger.nsu.edu ((Mark D. Manes), Norfolk State University)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
Subject: Re: Amiga vs. Mac -- convince me...
Message-ID: <731.27dc06ae@vger.nsu.edu>
Date: 12 Mar 91 02:37:34 GMT
References: <1991Mar11.161412.14449@math.lsa.umich.edu>
Lines: 138

In article <1991Mar11.161412.14449@math.lsa.umich.edu>, jeremy@math.lsa.umich.edu (Jeremy Teitelbaum) writes:
>
> [Stuff Deleted]
>
> I have extensive UNIX experience (I am typing this on a Sun IPC running
> X11 in my office) and I am finally looking to buy a computer for home.
> I would like to get something which I can use for my main applications,
> while at the same time allowing my kids to have some fun (and maybe
> learn something about computers.)  I essentially rely on TeX,
> Maple, and Emacs  at work.   I would also like to be able
> to do some financial stuff on my home system -- like print checks,
> do my taxes, etc.
> 
> I am willing to make a substantial monetary investment in this
> home system, and I plan to buy a laser printer with the CPU.
> 
> As I see it, my choices are:
> 
> Apple IIsi/5M RAM/80M hard drive + HP laserjet IIP with appletalk/postscript
> 				   (or Apple "Personal Laserwriter NT")
> 
> 
> Amiga 3000/5M RAM/100M drive + HP laserjet IIP with postscript +
> VGA (or better) monitor (I really don't like the way the 1950 looks.)
> 
> Since I'm talking to Amiga fanatics here, let me tell you my reservations
> about the Amiga (since the amiga system is probably cheaper...)
> 
> 1.  Will Commodore survive in the US?

I certainly believe that the worst is over for Commodore.  They survived 
a very rough time in microcomputer history.  I think the microcmputer 
world is finally noticing that not all good ideas (or affordable ones)
come from Apple and IBM.  Commodore stock recently has been very exciting,
especially if you purchased it at $5 a share.  
 
I am not a fortune teller, but I bet with my pocketbook that Commodore
will be around for a long long time in the United States.

> 2.  If the system breaks, can I get it fixed?

Absolutely!  In fact the A3000 is considered a "professional" system and
therefore is granted 1 year on-site service (at your home!), or you can
choose to have your local Amiga dealer repair it.

This is so much better than having to package it up, send it via Federal
Express and wait.  I bought a computer that costs professional dollars,
it is nice to be treated as such.  Hopefully I will not have to test
this "repair" concept. :-)

> 3.  Is my selection of "canned" software too limited?  I've
> followed the recent discussion about Amiga wordprocessors, for
> example, with some concern; Although I use TeX, my wife and kids
> are happy with something like Microsoft Word for letters and school
> papers.

TeX certainly is available and popular with most of the techies out here,
but I dare say your wife should be more than pleased with Pro-Write or
WordPerfect.   I know WordPerfect gets a bad rap on the Amiga (and some
of it deserved mind you!) but it does do a very nice job.

> 4.  Is the Amiga a hacker's machine, which needs a lot of fiddling
> to get it to do stuff?  I spend many hours at work administering a
> substantial UNIX network; I don't need a computer at home that has
> to be tinkered with endlessly.  

I think this is where the Amiga truly shines.  It is a hackers machine
AND it is a machine that can be as simple to use as a Mac.  The Mac
forces you into doing things _its_ way, and for some folks who just
want to get a job done that is fine.  The Amiga does this with its
workbench, if you however want to do complex inner-process communication
with AREXX etc. etc, you can do that as well.

> 5.  What is the overall hardware quality like?  Do the keyboards,
> mice, etc.  hold up over time?

The quality appears to me to be exceptionaly good.  Mouses and keyboards
are generally religious items though. :-)

> 
> And of course anything else you might want to tell me.
> 

One _very_ important thing that is missing in your comparison.  You are
_used_ to having multitasking at your finger tips.  You will _really_
miss it on the Mac.  The Amiga 3000 has a very snappy and responsive
multitasking operating system that does not seem to get in the way,
like some multitasking systems I have seen.  Not only that, X Windows
is available for your Amiga under AmigaDOS or you can run UNIX.  For
that matter you can emulate a Mac, an IBM PC, or a C64!

> Just to prevent my own flame destruction, let me make the following
> stipulations about the Amiga:
> 
> 1.  In terms of hardware specifications, it is a better buy than the Mac.

I disagree.

> 2.  I agree that it has a very sophisticated architecture for a PC and that,
> particularly for color graphics, it has better performance than the Mac.

I agree.

> 3.  Most importantly to me, it is a relatively open system in comparison
> with the Mac.

I agree.

> 4.  Apple Computer is a parasite which should be boycotted because of
> its anti-competitive lawsuits and its secrecy about its system design
> (actually, this point means a lot to me as I have a lot of sympathy with
> the FSF, and if you can convince me that Amiga is the way to go you will
> help my conscience considerably...)

I believe you just answered your own question. :-)  Rule 4 seems to overide
all other rules. :-)

> 
> I await your advice....
> 

Consider it given!

> 
> Jeremy Teitelbaum
> Math Dept.
> U. of Illinois -- Chicago
> Chicago, IL 60680
> 312-996-2371

 -mark=
     
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 | \/     |   Mark D. Manes   "Mr. AmigaVision,  The 32 bit guy"
 | /\  \/ |   manes@vger.nsu.edu                                        
 |     /  |   (804) 683-2532    "Make up your own mind! - AMIGA"
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