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From: hsgj@batcomputer.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: MAS-20 review
Message-ID: <280@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu>
Date: Wed, 25-Feb-87 23:30:06 EST
Article-I.D.: batcompu.280
Posted: Wed Feb 25 23:30:06 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 1-Mar-87 13:00:06 EST
References: <221@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu> <13742@sun.uucp>
Reply-To: hsgj@batcomputer.UUCP (Dan Green)
Organization: Theory Center, Cornell University, Ithaca NY
Lines: 61
Keywords: Hard Disk Review

In article <13742@sun.uucp> cmcmanis@sun.uucp (Chuck McManis) writes:
>In article <221@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu>, hsgj@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu (Dan Green) writes:
>> [I write some negative comments about TxEd demo ]
>> -- Dan Green
>
>Dan and others, the Demo copy of TxEd on the MicroBotics disk is old
>and out of date. [...]  MicroSmiths and specifically Charlie Heath is
>committed to writing quality software at reasonable prices. Their
>two products TxEd and FastFonts both provide good capabilities for
>the machine. 
>--
> Chuck McManis

I received about twenty (20) mail files pertaining to the MAS-20 review.
This would indicate that net readers have a high interest in hard disks,
(though they may not be representative of the whole Amiga community).
Anyways, I do not want to be a source of negative information, so I will
clarify some statements I made earlier:

1) I had some complaints with the TxEd ->>> DEMO <<<- for some personal
reasons.  Each user should make THEIR OWN DECISION on any software they
purchase -- especially since I was concentrating on writing about the
MAS-20 and the TxEd remark just "slipped out".  I stand by my opinions,
but apologize to MicroSmiths for any bad pub I have given them.  Remember,
I saw just a demo, and an old one at that...  Draw your own conclusions.

2) I recently found out that the MAS-20 I have is a dealer/developer
copy, which has the "feature" of specifically providing NO documentation.
Therefore, if you walk into a computer sales place as an "average joe",
the MAS-20 you buy may (I have no concrete info on this) have a manual.
If we take away the minuses from the lack of manual, that I cited, the
MAS-20's "score (which, mind you, is quite subjective)" will be raised.
Of course, buying a MAS-20 as a non-dealer/dev will up its price by a bit.

3) I had the use of a Sperry PC/IT with a 40 meg drive for one summer.
Therefore, when I reviewed the MAS-20, the only hard drive I could compare
it to in my mind was the Sperry's drive.  Now, not to over-plug the
competition, but the PC/IT had the fastest drive on the market at the
time, so when I did get the Amiga hard disk, my mindset was to expect
something on the order of this speed (eg something damn fast).  As
my stats showed, the MAS-20 did not show such a great speedup (although
it is still twice as good as a floppy).  However, as some folks
at Commodore/Amiga have pointed out, the fault can most likely be
attributed to the AmigaDOS, which is placing a very low bound on disk
throughput.

4) Due to the AmigaDOS barrier, I suppose all hard disks will evidence
performance akin to the MAS-20.  Is this good?  Make your own conclusion.
I stand by my statement that the MAS-20 is reliable and has a lot of
useful storage, but just aint fast.  If you are looking for speed, spend
the big bucks and get a ram expansion...

5) Perhaps Commdore will incorporate the mentioned upgrade to AmigaDOS
in the A2000, so that users familiar with the IBM PC world will have
disk speed on the Amiga comparible to what they are used to.

ps: Thanks for all the mail -- it makes rn more interesting :-)
-- Dan Green
-- 
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