Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!bcm!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!remus.rutgers.edu!lcs From: lcs@remus.rutgers.edu (Lyle C. Seplowitz) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy Subject: Wake Up Commodore! Message-ID: Date: 20 Mar 91 02:42:43 GMT Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J. Lines: 82 First of all, I'm not going to bash Commodore. I've owned a Commodore computer since the Vic 20 and have upgraded to the 64 and to my current machine, the 128. Now that I want to purchase an Amiga, I am faced with a problem that I think many would-be Amiga owners have... I'm interested in the Amiga for its graphics and animation abilities. I've considered the alternatives, the IBM and Mac. While I like the Mac, I would only purchase it if I only wanted to do desktop publishing and graphic design (and based on what I've heard about the new NEXT, I might just get one of those instead of the Mac). I don't really like the IBM. While it does have the ability to display higher resolution displays with more colors, the hardware can cost a fortune and you still can't animate on it. Plus I'd still have to deal with MS-DOS. Anyway, to get on with my problem. I've been looking into what Amiga machine to purchase. I would really like to get a A3000, but I'm not sure if I can afford one right now. Therefore that leaves me two alternatives, the A2000 or A500. With the latter, I can't stand the idea of having a computer that looks like my 128, even if it is much more powerful. (I don't want to even think about how big the thing would be with a hard drive on its side). Please, don't even mention that Bodega Bay thing. I think that is the ugliest and crueliest thing you can do to a computer. I do like the overall appearance of the A500. At least it looks more pleasing than the A2000, which is essentially a box with a keyboard. Yes, you may think that I am shallow, but looks (in a computer) are important to me. But powerful and features are more important than appearance. So back to the A3000. This machine has everything I want at a great price. At least the educational price is excellent. But it is still slightly high for me right now. So now I go back to the A2000 and A500. The major problem I have with the A500 is that it isn't easily expandable. Sure there are options for expansion, but they are limited. The A2000 offers great expandability options. OK, let me get to my point or at least my suggestions. Commodore, wake up! The market is changing rapidly and your being left behind. What happened to WB 2.0? Come on, how long do you need to get that out? You can't be that far off since its already available to A3000 owners! Kill the A500 already! Sorry folks, but Commodore needs to replace the A500 with a better low-end machine, like an A1500. The A1500 could look like a longer version of the A3000. Commodore needs to have a low-end machine that is professional as well. A detachable keyboard and expansion slots are important. An optional INTERAL hard drive is a must. Yet, Commodore should design the machine so that A500 owners can transform their machines into the A1500-type design. This way no one is left behind (Commodore's favorite policy). As far as the A2000, make that machine look better, please! And make the hard drive standard! I think we are in a time when hard drives are standard equipment for a computer. If you don't need a HD then you could always purchase the A1500. More internal memory is definetly needed! The A1500 should have 1 Meg Chip RAM standard. 512K just doesn't cut it anymore. The A2000 should come with 2 Megs, 1 Meg Chip, 1 Meg Fast. And the A3000 should have 3 Megs, 1 Meg Chip, 2 Megs fast. What else, well better graphics displays would be nice. I'm not talking about those 24-bit boards out now, I'm talking a change in the graphics chips. Why can't the Amiga have 24-bit color standard? What about 8-bitplanes of color? The low-end machine might not have all the graphic capabilites as the A3000, but users should be able to expand easily. I hope this isn't too hopelessly jumbled. You should be able to get my point. I like Commodore and I like the Amiga, but Commodore needs to wake up and see what's going on in the computer world or they'll be left behind. Come on Commodore what are you doing? -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :) :( :> :< :] :[ ;) :| :? :} :{ :* :^) :^( :+ :-) :\ :/ :! :$ :' :@ :O :# :<> l c s @ r e m u s . r u t g e r s . e d u ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Everything stated or expressed in this post is strictly my opinion or viewpoint