Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!uunet!cbmvax!daveh
From: daveh@cbmvax.commodore.com (Dave Haynie)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
Subject: Re: AT bus in 2000 and 3000
Message-ID: <21308@cbmvax.commodore.com>
Date: 6 May 91 21:54:18 GMT
References: <21093@cbmvax.commodore.com> <0kqF24w163w@dworkin.Amber.COM>
Reply-To: daveh@cbmvax.commodore.com (Dave Haynie)
Organization: Commodore, West Chester, PA
Lines: 50

In article <0kqF24w163w@dworkin.Amber.COM> jtravis@dworkin.Amber.COM (Jim, Sysop) writes:
>daveh@cbmvax.commodore.com (Dave Haynie) writes:

>> [..]  Enhanced ISA, EISA, is an attempt to build a bus that's upward
>> compatible with ISA and somewhat modern (multi-mastered, shared-interrupts,
>> intelligent configuration, the normal Amiga-bus stuff).

>        Hey Dave - why can't CBM sue other people for stealing the look and 
>feel of the Amiga software and hardware?  

Well, personally, I think it's absurd that anyone can get away with 
successfully suing over the look and feel of anything.  I think the forces of
darkness in this industry may need to resort to legal mumbo-jumbo to make up
for lack of real innovation, but I hope we never have to sink that low.

As for actual hardware, the various Amiga bus concepts were hardly an Amiga
first, they just look good when compared to what else was popular in the 
personal computer business during the 80's.  A number of these things were
done in industrial buses and 70's things like S-100 bus.  I'm just amazed that
ISA bus came out as it did, it's almost as if the designers built the thing
in a vacuum.

>Who knows...properly followed up on, CBM could be on to some big $$$ if they 
>could ever prove technical/intellectual theft was at work here.  

The only real protection for intellectual property is the patent system.  And
if you take a look at how messed up that system is today, you don't get a good
feeling about it.  Being granted a patent is supposed to mean that you have
an actual invention, and that you are the first to actually implement this 
invention.  An invention is NOT just an idea, but a complete implementation of
a concept that make take into account a number of discrete ideas, none of which
can morally be patented.  In reality, the patent office knows very little about
what it is granting patents on these days, and basically only looks to previous
patents as its measure for what has been done previously.

>I guess after having gone from an A1000 to a 2000, then a 2500/30 and now a 
>3000, I wish CBM could keep a bit more of the edge it has seemingly pioneered.

Again, I personally don't think it's proper to keep your edge by holding others
back.  I think you can best keep ahead by moving ahead while the others are
trying to catch up to where you were.  That's not always easy, but it's 
infinitely more satisfying, unless perhaps you're a lawyer.  Unfortunately, 
lots of people see holding back the competition via law suits as a better way
to hold their position.   

>       ///   Jim Trascapoulos  *  CSAccess BBS  *  609-584-8774
-- 
Dave Haynie Commodore-Amiga (Amiga 3000) "The Crew That Never Rests"
   {uunet|pyramid|rutgers}!cbmvax!daveh      PLINK: hazy     BIX: hazy
      "That's me in the corner, that's me in the spotlight" -R.E.M.