Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!seismo!sundc!pitstop!sun!decwrl!labrea!jade!ucbcad!ames!lll-tis!elxsi!beatnix!wilkes From: wilkes@beatnix.UUCP (John Wilkes) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga Subject: Re: Amiga 1000 buy-back & changing standards Message-ID: <603@elxsi.UUCP> Date: Sat, 24-Oct-87 18:22:20 EST Article-I.D.: elxsi.603 Posted: Sat Oct 24 18:22:20 1987 Date-Received: Wed, 28-Oct-87 07:46:08 EST Sender: nobody@elxsi.UUCP Reply-To: wilkes@beatnix.UUCP (John Wilkes) Distribution: na Organization: ELXSI Super Computers, San Jose Lines: 88 In several of the numerous followups to my diatribe against Commodore, the question was asked, "What's your problem?" Well, here goes. What set me off was a comment made in the following article: In article <2531@cbmvax.UUCP> grr@cbmvax.UUCP (George Robbins) writes: >In article <311@apctrc.UUCP> lbrown@apctrc.UUCP (Lawrence H. Brown) writes: >> In article <2345@cbmvax.UUCP: grr@cbmvax.UUCP (George Robbins) writes: >> :In article <2948@hoptoad.uucp> slc@hoptoad.UUCP (Steve Costa) writes: >> :> >> :> Is there any substance to the rumor that Commodore will make custom chips >> :> for the A500 and A2000 that be able to use 1 Meg of chip ram? Where does >> :> that leave us A1000 owners? I have not been considering upgrading to the /* stuff deleted */ >> But then again, maybe the reasoning is not to reveal stuff like that to avoid >> talking about things that don't already solidly exist, or maybe because C-A's >> moving away from the A1000. Whatever... /* more stuff deleted */ /* here it comes, this really got me going: */ >I would also point out that Commodore is keeping the brave souls who >bought the A1000 in mind by offering them and only them the special >A1000 -> A2000 upgrade deal. This deal may or may not appeal to you, >but please comtemplate what it suggests about Commodore's plans for >the future... > >-- >George Robbins - now working for, uucp: {ihnp4|rutgers|allegra}!cbmvax!grr Rightly or wrongly, I (and a few others I see) interpreted this to mean that Commodore had given us the opportunity to upgrade to a 2000, so that we should not whine sometime in the future when the 1000 is abandoned. I feel like $4000 is enough to have invested in a computer that crashes almost without fail whenever I go into program-writing mode (silly me, I continue to have bugs in my code). If the intent of the above statement is significantly different from my reading, I would like to be corrected. I would welcome such a correction. However, it sure sounds to me like "Commodore's plans for the future" don't include me owning a A1000. One of the numerous followups asked if I get upset each year when a newer and better and faster car comes out, obsoleting the model I currently own. Of course not. However, I would like to point out that I can still go to the Volvo dealer and buy relacement parts for my 1969 Volvo 142. I can still take my 1969 Volvo to the Volvo dealer and get it fixed. Can the same be said for my A1000 now? Probably yes. Can the same be said about my A1000 a year from now? I don't know. Just what *are* Commodore's plans for the future regarding the A1000's that are still out there? What are Commodore's plans for the Zorro *0* (not Zorro I, not Zorro II) memory board I own? (That's a rhetorical question, son, rhetorical.) To the person who added up suggested retail prices and could not figure out how I paid $3000 for my original purchase, the answer is twofold. First part: software. Amiga C, Amiga Pascal, Amiga Lisp, Manx C developers, Deluxe Paint. I have purchased several other software packages since. I also bought a printer, but I don't count it, because it can obviously be used on non-Amiga computers. Second part: sales tax. Not that Commodore has anything to do with sales tax, but in arriving at the three grand number, I am counting what left my pocket as a result of purchasing an Amiga A1000 computer. I *like* my Amiga, for what it is. I just can't justify coughing up an additional $1000 for the A2000 + more $ for 2M ram (that I already bought once) + more $ for a hard disk (that I don't have for the A1000 but I covet.) I prefer the A1000 with the keyboard garage, with (from available reports) better quality construction overall, with the quieter fan. I am disappointed that peripheral add-on compatibility was not maintained between the A1000 and either the A500 or the A2000 (or both - what a concept). I feel like Commodore has left me twisting in the wind, and they're not getting any more of *my* money. I hope the new A500 and A2000 are successes. I hope Commodore has settled once and for all on their expansion bus. I hope Commodore continues to support me and all the other "brave souls who bought the A1000" and choose not to buy the A2000. In 1979, I bought an Apple ][, and Apple *still* supports *it*. Disclaimer: I am not Ed Chaban. ;-) -- John Wilkes --- UUCP: (work) {ucbvax,ihnp4}!sun!elxsi!wilkes UUCP: (home) {ucbvax,ihnp4}!sun!elxsi!maow!john ARPA: elxsi!wilkes@lll-tis.ARPA USPS: ELXSI Ltd., 2334 Lundy Pl., San Jose, CA 95131 BELL: (work) (408) 942-0900