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From: grr@cbmvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Beyond the 2000
Message-ID: <1553@cbmvax.cbmvax.cbm.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 14-Mar-87 22:12:02 EST
Article-I.D.: cbmvax.1553
Posted: Sat Mar 14 22:12:02 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 15-Mar-87 08:05:00 EST
References: <5893@amdahl.UUCP>
Reply-To: grr@cbmvax.UUCP (George Robbins)
Organization: Commodore Technology, West Chester, PA
Lines: 34
Keywords: 2000 68020 32-bits future THINK NOW

In article <5893@amdahl.UUCP> kim@amdahl.UUCP (Kim DeVaughn) writes:
>From Pete Jordan @ Amdahl Corp:
>
>   I would like to know what the odds are of updating an Amiga 2000 to
>   a full 32-bit data path machine are in the future, beyond the 68020
>   accelerator card already mentioned?  For example, will we be able to
>   replace mother boards or will we have to buy a completely new machine?
>   It's not to early for Commodore engineering to start addressing this
>   issue, even if we are talking about 1988 or (gulp) 1989.

	The general plan is that a 68020 card would have a 32-bit local memory
bus, with the existing 16-bit expansion bus becoming, in effect, a "slow"
peripheral/memory bus.  This allows 32-bit performance levels without the
trashing the existant expansion bus products and the custom chip set.

	Putting the 68020 on the mainboard is basically a cost/marketing
decision.  The base price for such a system would be substantially more
than the current A2000 (though not as much as a Mac II 8-).  It is hard to
tell whether such main-boards would be interchangable.  If this product was
created in the near-future, commonality of casework would be a big plus.
In the longer term, other issues such as the trend toward small, sexy
cases might be more important.

	Such issues are addressed, however it is important to remember that
the benefit of giving "new" customers a cheaper machine may outweigh concerns
about providing "cheap" upgrades that might add to the base price or other-
wise detract from sale appeal of a new machine.

*** these are personal opinions and perspectives, not a Commodore position ***

-- 
George Robbins - now working for,	uucp: {ihnp4|seismo|rutgers}!cbmvax!grr
but no way officially representing	arpa: cbmvax!grr@seismo.css.GOV
Commodore, Engineering Department	fone: 215-431-9255 (only by moonlite)