Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!rutgers!uwvax!uwslh!lishka From: lishka@uwslh.UUCP Newsgroups: comp.sys.cbm Subject: Re: Atari ST or Amiga ? Help ! Message-ID: <285@uwslh.UUCP> Date: Fri, 20-Nov-87 12:33:47 EST Article-I.D.: uwslh.285 Posted: Fri Nov 20 12:33:47 1987 Date-Received: Sun, 22-Nov-87 12:32:50 EST References: <1226@edison.GE.COM> <571@aucs.UUCP> Reply-To: lishka@uwslh.UUCP (Christopher Lishka) Organization: U of Wisconsin-Madison, State Hygiene Lab Lines: 90 In article <571@aucs.UUCP> 870646c@aucs.UUCP (barry comer) writes: >I am not a MIDI expert by any means, but I do know the ST pretty good. I am not an Amiga expert by any means, but I will attempt to balance the previous discussion with some decent arguments *for* buying an Amiga. >All >I can do is pass on what I and alot of other ST owners have learned. The ST >is a very good computer, So is the Amiga, but these are both very personal judgements, so take them as you like. >the support for the MIDI port is very good, I know >that there is several very good software packages out for it, and most of >them do not but "copy protection" in your way if you decide to use a hard disk >like myself. You must remember that if you do get the "Amiba" you will have >to dish out the extra bucks for the MIDI interface(if they have one??). These are good points. The Atari folks had foresight in placing a MIDI port on the machine, because they have secured a good portion of the market. However, both the Amiga as well as the Macinstosh can control MIDI devices via the serial port, although an adapter (i.e. not really an interface, although I am not sure about the MAC) will need to be built. In fact, I believe a design for one was mailed over comp.sys.amiga a while ago. As for copy protection, well, the Amiga has quite a few copy-protected programs, as per the whims of the software producers. Note, though, that as with the ST, copy protection varies. One can also buy a good copy-protection-breaking program (another added cost...), but I am not sure if this will allow installation of the program on a hard disk. An annoying problem... >Give the ST a look over, as ol'Jack says "Power without the Price". >Also it is a known fact that the ST is by far more supported than the Amiga. >Give the Amiga a look over as well, it is a nice machine. "Power without the Price" is becoming a grey zone these days with the introduction of the Amiga 500. I believe that the ST is still priced below the A500 (and it comes with a monitor as well), but with the A500 running only $600 these days, the ST finally has some competition in the 68000 market. The statement that the ST is more supported than the Amiga could be argued; they is a *lot* of public domain software for the Amiga, which I would call support, and it seems to me that the Commodore people on comp.sys.amiga are always there to answer questions...it at least seems like a lot of support to me. But that is subjective. Some general comments: I think that if you want to play primarily with MIDI, the ST is the way to go, because it seems (from what I have read on the AMIGA newsgroup) the Atari has more and better MIDI software. However, a good friend has informed of a program recommended to him by two musicians (and professional music software writers as well) called SoundScape for the Amiga which is supposed to be real good. I have no idea what the program is like myself (I've never used it), but it might be something you would want to look into. If you really want multitasking, then the Amiga is the way to go. The OS was designed to be multitasking from the start, so it is easy and efficient to use. If you like graphics, I would venture to say that you can't buy a better computer in the $600 price range than the Amiga. It is primarily a graphics computer, and has an incredible amount of power in this area. I've heard that the windowing-system on the Amiga and the OS are generally better than the Atari's GEM system, but not having used GEM, I cannot give a good comparison. The Amiga OS does have its bugs, so check out both. And finally: in terms of a "well rounded" computer, my personal choice between the two is the Amiga. In terms of MIDI, the ST beats the Amiga in both cost and price. What you want will depend primarily on what you want to use the machine for... >later >Barry > >P.S. Good luck with whatever machine you by!! Agreed! The above is not meant to be a flame of Atari's, or a praise of Amiga's. Both machines have their good points and bad points, so talk with people who use both machines. I hope you find the machine that suits your needs best. -Chris -- Chris Lishka /lishka@uwslh.uucp Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene <-lishka%uwslh.uucp@rsch.wisc.edu "What, me, serious? Get real!" \{seismo, harvard,topaz,...}!uwvax!uwslh!lishka