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From: planting@sun16.cs.pittsburgh.edu (Dr. Harry Plantinga)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Next Amiga System
Message-ID: <4176@pitt.UUCP>
Date: 19 Oct 88 13:08:22 GMT
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What we really need for the next amiga system is a 68030, since it
contains an mmu and doesn't cost much more than the motorola mmu
alone.  That way we can have virtual memory.  Then too, we'll need
several DMA channels to keep the I/O from slowing down the processor.
As for memory, we'll need lots to keep from slowing down that
processor.  8 Mb would really be nice.  It will also need a faster
bus, perhaps a VMEbus or a Nubus.

It's got to have good graphics, at least 1024x768, and good sound.
Maybe a DSP chip would be nice!  Also, D/A and A/D.  For the operating
system, besides virtual memory we should really have compatibility with
the rest of the world (of course not including the IBM or Mac world),
so what could be better than BSD 4.3 unix compatibility?

Finally, let's give it a really big floppy that could also serve as a
distribution medium for large software packages and as a backup medium
for a big disk, or even as the only secondary storage in a pinch.  I
think 256 Mb would be about right.  It should also be able to handle an
internal hard disk.  A cheap postscript printer would help.

Now I realize that this would all cost a lot, but if it is all made
standard and the box sells pretty well, maybe we can keep the price
down to less than it would cost to add all of that stuff to an amiga,
or the price of a minimal mac II with A/UX.  Say, 6500?  It might be
hard to manufacture at that price, but if they could do it, they could
make a big dent in the high-end pc/low-end workstation market.  And
package it in some hi-tech format . . .  And market it well . . .

(The truth now, what would your opinion of this posting have been two
weeks ago?  Pie in the sky?)