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From: chucks@pnet51.orb.mn.org (Erik Funkenbusch)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
Subject: Re: The Amiga's Future
Message-ID: <5068@orbit.cts.com>
Date: 4 Jun 91 18:25:06 GMT
Article-I.D.: orbit.5068
Sender: news@orbit.cts.com
Organization: People-Net [pnet51], Minneapolis, MN.
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galpin@bill.ucsc.edu (Daniel Abram Galpin) writes:

   (*sigh*, another uninformed (that thinks he knows everything) amigan that
    has fallen pray to propoganda, as i shall prove.)

>
>There has been talk about the future of the Amiga recently. The Amiga 3000 is
>fantastic. I have used them a great deal and have found them a joy to work
>with compared to the A500 and A1000 systems that I currently possess. However,
>I find myself doing things more often on the PC or MAC that just cannot be
>done as easily (or as nicely) on Amigas.

And just what are you doing that can't be done as easily (or nicely) on
Amiga's?  don't throw a blanket statement like that out without something to
back it up.

>
>The Amiga needs better printer support with built-in full Postscript support,
>scalable font technology, and a more dynamic printer driver system. The Mac
>System 7.0 and MS Windows 3.1 BOTH have TrueType and support TrueImage. The
>only program that I have used for the Amiga that produces truly fantastic
>Deskjet output is TeX. TeX is not for everyone. It is far more power then most
>people need, and the versions that I have seen barely run on a 1 meg Amiga
>500.. which I consider to be the standard Amiga. In order to get copy that is
>comparable to the output from System 7.0 and Microsoft Word.. or JUST ABOUT
>ANY OTHER MAC PROGRAM, I would have to buy a dedicated desktop-publishing
>system such as PageStream or Professional Page. 

again, AmigaDos 2.0 hasn't been finalized yet, and fairly reliable word has
been handed down that 2.0 *WILL* support compugraphic scalable font technogy
in the OS when it is released in 3rd quarter this year.  Windows 3.1 isn't out
yet either.  what do you mean by "dynamic printer driver support"?  your fond
of refering to system 7.0, system 7 will not run on a machine with less than 2
megs of memory, hardly a standard configuration either.  the cost of Ms  Word,
is about equal to the cost of such programs as PageSetter II, which is a cheap
page layout program that also offers Compu-Graphic support.  actually PS II is
probably cheaper.  i haven't priced word lately but last i saw it was in the
range of 180 dollars, you could almost buy Pagestream for that.  again, wait
for 2.0 to come out officially.

>
>The Amiga just doesn't have enough processor power to handle many of the newer
>applications (and games..) There is no real midstream Amiga.. The A2000 just
>doesn't cut it anymore. How about an Amiga 500 that can run at 14Mhz with some
>small amount of cache memory, with a socket for a 68881 math co-processor and
>a bit more RAM expandability on board? The Amiga market is too sharply
>divided, with the high-end Amiga 3000 including just about everything and the
>500's and 2000's including nothing. For most users, the 2000 is just not
>enough power anymore. How about a "segmented" system that allows users to add
>on options simply (as cartridges or something)? Video-enhancer here... RAM
>here... co-processor here... PC emulator here, etc... How about a built in
>SCSI interface on a low-cost Amiga, or an all-in-one low cost solution such as
>an Amiga 500 with a built in MIDI interface, SCSI interface, 68881 socket, and
>8 megs of possible expansion on the motherboard, combined with a
>speed-switchable 68000? These kinds of options are available to Macintosh and
>PC people, and I cannot understand why C= is ignoring the pre-built Mid-Range
>market.

not enough power eh?  you call 50 Mhz not enough power?  show me a Mac with 50
Mhz..  most of the above suggestions wouldn't work.  there would be too many
mid models that would only confuse the customer.  the 500's and 2000's hardly
have "nothing" included with them.  the only things they don't have is the
faster processor, 32 bit bus, flicker-fixer hardware, and built-in scsi. (well
for the major items, the 3000 also has tons of other niceties, but that's the
joy of owning a high end computer.  a 500 is a low end computer, that means
it's designed to be sold cheap.  you can't have tons of features and still be
cheap.  your modular system is.... A 2000!, it's called an expansion bus.  as
for midi interface, the CDTV has one built in.  you suggest alot of things
that people don't want to pay for if their not going to use.  it is far easir
 to build your own system than to expect cbm to accomodate every possible
configuration.  I don't recall seeing a mac with a built in midi interface, or
a pc for that matter.  i don't recall seing ANY pc come with a scsi interface.
 most Mac's these days don't have an FPU socket either, the LC can't have one,
and the SI you need to buy and expansion connector to get it.  Mac classics
don't have an FPU.  Where do you get off claiming these things that aren't
true.

>
>Commodore should embrace one of the graphics expansion options for the Amiga,
>such as the Colorburst or HAM-E, and offer Workbench support. Both of these
>solutions are admittedly "hacks," but that hasn't stopped Commodore before
>(witness the A2024 monitor). How about a simple graphics device, or at least a
>Commodore graphics specification? If Commodore really wants to push
>Multimedia, give Amiga the power it needs to at LEAST rival LOW END Mac II or
>VGA graphics. 

This is somewhat true.  CBM isn't going to embrace ANY of these devices for a
simple reason.  none of them are ideal situations.  It is my understanding
that CBM is developing their own system that will be MUCH more forward
compatible with future Amiga's.  no sense standardizing a board that may fail
on the 4000.  

>
>An Amiga enhancement such as HAM-E or Colorburst would also work with CD-TV,
>and enable it to have better graphics realism as well... the "Graphics
>Enhancement Cartridge" from Commodore...
>
>Commodore should make CD-ROM available to ALL Amiga owners as soon as
>possible. A relatively low cost CD-ROM peripheral for the Amiga would be an
>excellent selling point.

obviously you haven't been looking in the Amiga mags.  they have shown the
A690 CDTV adapter for the 500 with statements from CBM that a 2000 model is
forthcoming.  

>
>Finally, Commodore should do something similar to what it has done with CD-TV
>-- have a software division that can support the Amiga in areas where there is
>little software being produced.
>
>I guess it is time to step down from the pedistal. I love the Amiga and want
>it to continue, and feel that many of these options represent the BEST chance
>for the Amiga to survive and thrive far into the 90's.

and MOST of these options are either already there, or being done as we speak.
 I really wish people like you would take the time to research these flames
before you hit that save key.. as i've proved most of your allegations false
already i'll step down.

>
>- Dan Galpin
>galpin@ucscb.ucsc.edu
>galpin@cats.ucsc.edu
>" Amiga - the computer sold before its time... which is why it still isn't
>well-aged. "

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