Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!helios!stat!aaron
From: aaron@stat.tamu.edu (Aaron Hightower)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.programmer
Subject: Re: A CDTV question
Keywords: CDTV CD WHO USES KEYWORDS?
Message-ID: <13567@helios.TAMU.EDU>
Date: 21 Mar 91 15:01:09 GMT
References: <48298@nigel.ee.udel.edu>
Sender: usenet@helios.TAMU.EDU
Organization: Texas A&M University
Lines: 51

In article <48298@nigel.ee.udel.edu> PYC118@uriacc.uri.edu (Ras) writes:
>I'm really considering selling my 500 (and my CD player too) in order to get
>a CDTV but I have a few questions that some of you might know:
>
>1) How much will CDTV cost street price and is the price likely to go down
>within a few months?

Hmmm.  I don't know.  I believe that the retail price will be starting at $999.
The developer price is $750.  Not sure what the edu. price will be, but I
believe it will be more than $750 (at least a little).  You could pay the
developer fee to save a few bucks possibly.  I think the developer fee is
appx $75.  If you couldn't find it cheaper than $825, this would work, and
I don't think you would have to pay taxes on it either (as a developer).

>2) How much is that keyboard going to cost?
>3) How much will the Grolier encyclopedia cost (more or less)?

(2) I don't know and (3) I don't know.

>4) and most importantly, can I use my external drive as a *DF0* with CDTV
>   so that I can use all the programs I have right now?

When I saw CDTV last week, the person who showed it to me inserted a workbench
disk, and I could use the controller to control the mouse (although it was
slow).  In answer to your question, I'm am not sure, but it's a definite
maybe.  I had no problem operating workbench.  The only problem I could
forsee is the delay in the signal because of the speed of the infrared
controller.  This would mean that fast action games not work too well (EG
Shadow of the Beast et al).  The controller has a button to switch from
mouse to joystick so that it can act as one or the other (but not both
simulataneously).

CDTV is a very impressive system.  I don't think that the discount
places are going to reduce them too much for a while (getting back to your
original question).  I am a bit curious about how many machines have already
been manufactured.  In any case, I expect them to be *HOT*.  They some graphics
that will totally blow your socks off on the CDTV.  Really really really nice.
I saw a CD+G disc on the machine too.  Very impressive.  Brace yourselves
before you go look at one when they arrive.


>Rasiel
>
>ps. Ooh! I forgot! Can I use regular joysticks and mouses with CDTV or am I
>gonna be stuck with that Nintendo-like joypad thingy?

Nope.  There are two joystick ports, but the are both really wierd looking.
I think that someone may find a market to make a plug that will allow 9-pin
joysticks to be plugged into the CDTV.  Who knows?

Until later... (* poof *)