Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.misc
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!bronze!lothario!tagreen
From: tagreen@lothario.ucs.indiana.edu (Todd Green)
Subject: Few questions/observations about the A3000
Message-ID: <1991Apr22.184252.10274@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu>
Originator: tagreen@lothario
Sender: news@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu (USENET News System)
Organization: Indiana University Computing Services
Date: Mon, 22 Apr 91 18:42:52 GMT
Lines: 68

I've been meaning to take the time and write a thoughtfull article on
the A3000, but seems that it'll never get done.  So here comes some
rambling/questions off the top of my head.

I'm in the process of doing research about the A3000 since I intend to
purchase one in the next month or so.  First of all the questions
since they are the most important

1)  Any final word on when KickStart 2.0 will be in ROM?  Also as far
as I have gathered KickStart is roughly equivalent to the Toolbox on
the Mac (I come from a Mac background...at least that's what I get
paid for as a living ;) ).
	1a) What disadvantages would there be to getting a A3000
	before KS 2.0 is put in ROM? Upgrade costs, troubles, etc.

	1b) Once 2.0 is in ROM will you still be able to use 1.3
	to retain compatibility.


2)  Upon looking at the 1950 monitor I noticed an annoying flicker on the first
scan line of the monitor.  Escpecially when you would pull down a "screen".
Any word on this?  I think this was discussed before on this group...but oh well.

3) Any comments on the best development programs (C/C++/Objective-C) would be
welcome.  Commercial only.

3) Any difinitive word on the supposed problems with the SCSI controller with 
multiple drives?

4)  This is not really for me, but a co-worker has asked me to ask for him
(guess he's too lazy to type it in himself).  What kind of deals/opportunities
exist for an Amiga owner to develop for SEGA.  Are there any packages/cross
compilers etc.  (reply either to myself or mdchaney@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu)

And now for my comments observations:

Good:
1) Over all a really nice machine especially for the price.

Bad:
1) The interface is the worst (graphically speaking) out of the three computers that
I hold worthwhile (Mac, NeXT, Amiga).  First of all, the Amiga has rather nice
graphical abilities.  USE them.  The low-res clunky sprite of a cursor (even in
2.0) amazes me.  I feel like I'm using MaxAppleZoom.  Secondly not being able to
drag a window off the screen is unforgivable.  Finally the use of color is poor,
IMHO, but of course this is customizable.  The ability to use a CLI along with a
GUI tends to make up for some of the faults...but the "look and feel" could go a long,
long way.

2) Poor text quality.  After using a NeXT and Mac for over a year looking at the
Amiga tends to make me think back to Apple II 40 column days.  A sharper display
would certainly help out the machine.  Again this comes from limited use, so no flames
please.  These are just my initial observations from about 1 hour of playing with
a machine in a local store.

A final comment which I'll probably get flamed for is that I cannot believe the number
of people posting that they bought an Amiga and have absolutely no clue about the
machine.  I just cannot believe people will plunk down several thousand dollars without
having thoroughly studied the market/product.  Wish I had that kind of money to blow.


Thanks in advance,

Todd
-- 
Internet: tagreen@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu
NeXTMail: tagreen@lothario.ucs.indiana.edu
BitNet:	  tagreen@iubacs.bitnet