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Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!ll-xn!mit-eddie!uw-beaver!fluke!kurt
From: kurt@tc.fluke.COM (Kurt Guntheroth)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Some thoughts and questions about the Ranger
Message-ID: <543@dragon.tc.fluke.COM>
Date: Fri, 6-Mar-87 12:12:38 EST
Article-I.D.: dragon.543
Posted: Fri Mar  6 12:12:38 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 8-Mar-87 06:36:24 EST
References: <140@tahoma.UUCP>
Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc., Everett, WA
Lines: 31
Keywords: A2500, Ranger, X-Windows, Unix

All I want from the next Amiga is Virtual Memory and memory protection.  I
can live with the screen the size it is now.  I can live with AmigaDOS.  I
can live with a 68010 (like the one in my SUN, which isn't too bad after
all).  All I want is for one process to be protected from the evil whims of
another process.  All I want is for my system not to be trashed when one
program goes out to lunch and starts writing garbage into memory.

An MMU doesn't have to be expensive.  The AT&T UNIX PC did a very
clean and inexpensive MMU with some fast statuc RAMS.  An MMU doesn't
have to be fancy and doesn't have to be made by the same company as the
processor.

Virtual memory and memory protection are the last pieces in the "home
computer".  With protected memory, a home computer can stay "up" virtually
forever.  You can finally count on it to answer your phone, run your
appliances and so forth.  You can leave it running unattended without
wondering how long it will last.

I'd like a 68020, bigger screen, and all that, but I don't know if I would
pay more for it when it comes right down to it.  I also bought an Amiga
because it was $1500, and an equivalent (ha ha) PC system was about $5K.  I
would spend $1-2K for a computer for myself.  I wouldn't spend $5K.

An Amiga-as-a-UNIX-box will never sell.  SUN already does that.  Apple will
be there soon.  One of the things that differentiates Amiga is that it is a
price leader.  The amiga software is UNIX-like enough to reduce porting
problems to a reasonable level.  It is inexpensive hardware and software
that give the Amiga it's advantages.  Look for more ways to do fancy things
inexpensively.  Look for new areas (the genlock, the answermate (remember
the answermate?)) in which to innovate.  The Amiga will never survive in a
me-to market.