Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!hao!ames!ucbcad!ucbvax!jade!eris!mwm From: mwm@eris.BERKELEY.EDU (Mike (My watch has windows) Meyer) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga Subject: Re: Wishlist for A3000 Message-ID: <5888@jade.BERKELEY.EDU> Date: Fri, 13-Nov-87 00:26:44 EST Article-I.D.: jade.5888 Posted: Fri Nov 13 00:26:44 1987 Date-Received: Sun, 15-Nov-87 06:10:22 EST References: <74@mithras> <2729@cbmvax.UUCP> Sender: usenet@jade.BERKELEY.EDU Reply-To: mwm@eris.BERKELEY.EDU (Mike (My watch has windows) Meyer) Organization: Missionaria Phonibalonica Lines: 59 Keywords: Commodore A3000 Do it RIGHT! In article <2729@cbmvax.UUCP> grr@cbmvax.UUCP (George Robbins) writes: <> (3) Use the NUBUS (I think apple made a pretty good choice and compatibility <> would only hurt IBM) (have you looked at uChannel? sick!) < < We would get shot. The A2000 bus may not be fancy, but it gets the < job done. Changing it again, just when A2000 format I/O cards are < starting to be available would be silly. Perhaps some compatible < extension is needed for 32-bits, or maybe it should be considered < a 16-bit I/O bus, with 32-bit memory plugged in elsewhere. Probably. On the other hand, the options seem to be: 1) Coming out with a 16 bit A3000 next year. You'd do *well* to get shot. 2) Come out with a 16 bit A3000 in '89. You'd be laughed out of the market. 3) Come out with a 32-bit processor on a 16-bit bus. Why does "obsolete at announcement" come to mind? 4) As you suggested, a dual-bus machine, one Zorro ][, one 32 bits wide. Even if you make it "for memory", if you have more than one slot in it, people will be tempted to market "32-bit" I/O cards. Only one slot will leave people with the "What do I do with the old memory card" syndrome. Hmm - maybe going with Zorro ][ and SIMS, aka the Mac ][? 5) Going with a real 32-bit bus. This is the *serious* way to go. I'd suggest VME, not NuBus. That would provide an upgade path to SUNs and the like for your customers. Of course, you'd get shot if you failed to provide some Zorro ][ slots in the box for an upgrade path. Look where this kind of baroque architecture got DEC - #2 computer company worldwide. <> That's my top five. I don't think COST is TERRIBLY important. I'd buy the <> above if it cost comparable to the MAC II. < < If Commodore *ever* sells something as overpriced as the typical < Apple product, we deserve to be shot. If Commodore starts designing Amiga without keeping cost strictly in mind, they're going to wind up getting creamed by Sun & it's competion. <> P.S. Un*x support would be nice also. (notice I said nice, not req) < < No problem. 8-) Ah, but *which* Unix? I want MACH! Or maybe V8 (V9?). None of the stuff that AT&T employees call Sh*tlix, or that's suffering from Berkeley Brain Damage.