Xref: utzoo comp.sys.amiga:23870 comp.sys.amiga.tech:2093
Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!att!osu-cis!killer!elg
From: elg@killer.DALLAS.TX.US (Eric Green)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga,comp.sys.amiga.tech
Subject: Re: Next Amiga system
Message-ID: <5777@killer.DALLAS.TX.US>
Date: 12 Oct 88 00:31:51 GMT
References: <3590.AA3590@heimat>
Organization: The Unix(R) Connection, Dallas, Texas
Lines: 59

in article <3590.AA3590@heimat>, sneakers@heimat.UUCP (Dan "Sneakers" Schein) says:
>>>	I think a 386 clone & Un*x would cost
>>>   you more than the Amiga Un*x (but until its released thats up for debate).
>>Maybe, maybe not. But within a few months of introduction, if chip prices
>>fall the way they usually do, a 386 clone + UNIX will definitely be cheaper.
>>Quantity, quantity, quantity.
>>
>   Well when a 386 machine w/Unix becomes cheaper than Unix for the Amiga, guess
>   I can have a backup system :-) For some reason I just don't see where someone
>   can produce an entire machine (hd, monitor, ect) and include Unix for less
>   that CBM can sell a HD and Unix.

It's called VOLUME. The three biggest mail order outlets probably sell
more hard drives in an hour than Commodore Unix would ship in a year.
I have seen complete 80386 clones selling for $2200.  I'll leave the
cost of the 4mb of RAM out for the moment, since both computers would
need that 4mb. But: 80mb hard drive, $600. Bell Technologies Unix,
$400. So that's $1,000 total. $3200 before 4mb is added in (which at
current DRAM prices would be maybe $1500, alas).

The cost of an equivalent Amiga Unix would be:
  A-2000: $2200 (monitor & computer, "street" cost).
  Hard drive interface: $300
  68020 board: $1000 or so. 
  Hard drive (SCSI, 80mb): $800 (unless you figure some way of mouting
a full-height ST4096 in an Amiga!). 
  Amiga Unix: let's be charitable and say $300.

Already, we're up to $4600, and still rising. 

There's advantages: you have a windowing environment, and you can run
Killer Amiga when you're not running Unix. But if you want a full-time
Unix environment for a low cost (e.g. a public access Unix system),
the 80386 is definitely the way to go.


> Im basing this on *not including* a 020
>   board because some of us already have them


AH, but those of us who already have 020 boards can't use them with
Amiga Unix! So the cost of the '020 board is a definite part of the
expense of running Amiga Unix.

>>Information. We want... Information. You are number 6.
>>
>   #6 for what ?!?

Poor confused Dan, has never encountered the underground classic
series "The Prisoner". Watch it, Dan. It has been ten years since I
last saw it (on PBS), and it still gives me shivers just thinking
about it.... a hint: I am officially #433-xx-xxxx to the University of
Southwestern Louisiana.

--
Eric Lee Green    ..!{ames,decwrl,mit-eddie,osu-cis}!killer!elg
          Snail Mail P.O. Box 92191 Lafayette, LA 70509              
It's understandable that Mike Dukakis thinks he can walk on water.
He's used to walking on Boston harbor.