Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!crdgw1!uunet!orca!javelin.sim.es.com!blgardne
From: blgardne@javelin.sim.es.com (Blaine Gardner)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.misc
Subject: Re: Few questions/observations about the A3000
Message-ID: <1991Apr23.143421.17738@javelin.sim.es.com>
Date: 23 Apr 91 14:34:21 GMT
References: <1991Apr22.184252.10274@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu>
Reply-To: blgardne@javelin.sim.es.com
Organization: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation
Lines: 54

tagreen@lothario.ucs.indiana.edu (Todd Green) writes:
>1)  Any final word on when KickStart 2.0 will be in ROM?  Also as far

Real Soon Now.  CBM has been putting a LOT of effort into making 2.0
more compatible with 1.3, that's been the major delay from what I've
heard.

>	1a) What disadvantages would there be to getting a A3000
>	before KS 2.0 is put in ROM? Upgrade costs, troubles, etc.

No disadvantages that I can see, except you give up 512K of RAM to the
Kickstart image that's loaded from disk. The advantages to the current
setup is you can upgrade the OS from a floppy, without having to open
the case. Since RAM is cheap, and RAM is faster than ROM, I plan to stay
with the disk-based Kickstart myself.

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

Unknown. CBM may not provide the ability to run 1.3, but it's likely
that something like SetCPU or another PD/Shareware program will let you
do it. Of course that depends on the availability of an A3000 compatible
1.3 KS image.

>2)  Upon looking at the 1950 monitor I noticed an annoying flicker on the first
>scan line of the monitor.

It's a bug/feature (depending on who you talk to) of the de-interlacer's
design. I find it annoying myself, but dropping the Workbench's
background gray a couple of notches and setting the WB screen size to
724x478 instead of 724x480 "fixes" it for me.

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

Fixed. It's still there in 2.02, but turning off reselection will work
around it. It has been completely fixed for the next release.

>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.

The best suggestion I can give you is DO NOT buy the A1950. CBM makes
great computers, but they pick lousy OEMs for their displays. The A1950
is made in by AOC, not exactly the cream of the crop.

You'll be much happier if you buy a really nice display like the NEC 3D
or the Sony CPD-1302. I have the Sony myself, and prefer it to the NEC,
and the NEC is far better than the A1950. Sony also makes displays for
Apple, so you've probably seen them on Macs.
-- 
Blaine Gardner @ Evans & Sutherland  580 Arapeen Drive, SLC, Utah 84108
blgardne@javelin.sim.es.com                               BIX: blaine_g
DoD #46           My other motorcycle is a Quadracer.            FJ1200