Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!batcomputer!cornell!rochester!pt.cs.cmu.edu!o.gp.cs.cmu.edu!andrew.cmu.edu!rg20+ From: rg20+@andrew.cmu.edu (Rick Francis Golembiewski) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.misc Subject: Re: A new Amiga needed...and soon! Message-ID: Date: 25 Jun 91 18:47:00 GMT References: <1991Jun24.223616.16742@crash.cts.com> Organization: Class of '92, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA Lines: 80 In-Reply-To: <1991Jun24.223616.16742@crash.cts.com> seanc@pro-party.cts.com (Sean Cunningham) writes >I'm not trying to play -MB- here, but >I think they're cause for general concern. >1. The discussions betw-_en IBM and Apple involve the exchange of Apple's > software and interface technology for POWER RISC chips. I don't think that CA has much to worry about because of this, the POWER RISC chips are suited to building workstations, and with apple's pricing I don't think that there is any danger to the other workstation vendors that apple will grab a large market share. Most likley any workstation that apple builds on these chips will be far out of the price range that the 3000UX is in (the IIfx already is without unix!). >2. On October 21st Apple will unveil three new CPUs: an '040 tower, an '040 > desktop, and an '030 based Classic. Their new laptops, or palmtops are > due in the next couple of months, maybe sooner. Humm... just a repackaged SE 30... it would be nice if apple finally priced an 030 machine descently.... As for an apple lap/palmtop it would be a change from the best that they currently have as their portable (well it's portable with a jeep ;-) >3. NeXT is accquiring MC88000 family RISC chips for the next generation > of their workstations. Humm... I'm suprised that they would put out YET ANOTHER machine, especially one with a different processor, my guess is that they will have some kind of accelerator card to plug into cubes (Mach can handle multiple processors), I don't think that this is much of a threat to CA either... it will probabily be a very small number produced (just how may cubes were sold anyway?). >The A3000T is supposed to come out at the end of the summer, but if it has >the standard 25mHz '030 Apple's new machines will steal its thunder...an >A2500-like configuration could fill the gap for a while ('040 accelerator >pre-installed as an option on A3000 desktop and tower systems). But the >RISC threat is different. Actually a '040 card would be nice to have for the 3000, especially since now that more companies are using it the price of the '040 should drop enough to make the accelerator card relatively cheap (say under $1000) since it can use the 3000's memory. >NeXT is a threat for the UX systems since Commodore is now a low-end UNIX >workstation vendor. They've already got the jump on the A3000UX because of >the '040, and RISC workstations are what's making headlines right now (and >probubly in the future as well). True, given the choice of an 040 NeXT 8MB with 400MB HD or an 030 5MB 100MB HD 3000UX for about the same price... well I think I woulld go with the NeXT... it really is a nice fast system, I still like my a3000, but if the slabs had been around when I got my 3000.... well I very well might have bought one over the 3000. >Apple will gain more clout if it's aligned with IBM in releasing a POWER >based Macintosh. The new Macs will also more than likely come with 24bit >hardware on the motherboard (probably by integrating the 8*24GC >hardware...why reinvent the wheel?). I really doubt that they will release a RISC based mac, first of all they'de have to rewrite the OS for it, and every vendor would have to recompile software for it... Apple might try to start a new line, but they have put a massive investement into promoting the mac. >I think it'd be great for an '040 UNIX based tower setup to combat >Apple...they could even play on the name in their >advertising: The Amiga 3000 TUX now there's a classy sounding machine, >don't ya think? :) Humm... I certainly agree that CA should release an '040 equiped amiga (ie 3500-> A3000+040 accelerator ), but if they don't I'm sure some 3rd party will soon (ie GVP for instance). As long as CA keeps the pricing of the A3000 compedative, I don't think they will have too much of a problem keeping up with apple. // Rick Golembiewski rg20+@andrew.cmu.edu \\ \\ #include stddisclaimer.h // \\ "I never respected a man who could spell" // \\ -M. Twain //