Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!ucsd!sdcsvax!ucsdhub!hp-sdd!ncr-sd!ncrcae!hubcap!disd
From: disd@hubcap.clemson.edu (Gary Heffelfinger)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Neophyte Revisited
Message-ID: <5206@hubcap.clemson.edu>
Date: 21 Apr 89 15:29:39 GMT
References: <10272@ihlpb.ATT.COM>
Organization: Clemson University, Clemson, SC
Lines: 90

From article <10272@ihlpb.ATT.COM>, by mrios@ihlpb.ATT.COM (Rios):
> (...and then I'll work on GEOS for the Amiga...)
> 
> First, let me thank everyone for giving advice to a true-blue new user.  I
> have saved the output and will reread it over the weekend, adding to my wish
> list.
> 
> Next, some questions and comments from a new kid on the block:
> 
> 	- I'm getting sick of one drive.  Swapping is getting on my nerves

I don't blame you. :-)

> 	  already.  I'm also tired of error 103 appearing.  What's more
> 	  important to a happy system?  Another drive (hard or floppy)?
> 	  More memory (remember, this is a 500)?

If you can swing it, buy a hard disk.  I've owned Amigas since Summer of
'86 and I've loved them, but love took on a whole new meaning when I
bought my hard disk earlier this year.  For C programming, you just
can't beat the fast access, and the "vast" space.  I don't think I could
go back to a floppy-only Amiga now.

Having said that, let me also say that I don't know how easy it is to
add a hard disk to a 500.  I'm currently using a 2000, and it was
painfully easy to add one.  Floppies are considerably easier to add.  

> 
> 	  To make this question easier to answer, I'll say that this was
> 	  originally meant to be a game machine for me, but will probably
> 	  open out into a C development machine and a terminal to connect
> 	  to work (Handshake is such a neat program!).  Games will probably
> 	  be really high on my list, though.

If games are high, then a floppy should be too.  Many commerical games
run better if you have a second drive.  Precious few commercial games
will allow you to install them on your HD.  (Though that may be
changing, slowly.)   Most commercial games still run in 512K, so having
a 3M Amiga isn't necessary for game playing.  (There are PD/FD games
that will run better in >1M, though.  [Amiga Moria, for one.])

> 
> 	- Is there any reason to even consider purchasing Commodore's
> 	  modem over any other?  Hayes compatable, right?

No reason that I know of.  We use a non-Hayes, DEC Scholar modem and
life is fine.

> 
> 	- Who really needs CLI??  Maybe this attitude will change once I

You do, if you plan to program in C.  I believe that some of the Amiga
Modula-2 compilers will run from the WorkBench, but Manx and Lattice C
do not.  

> 	  get the hang of it (and another drive?).  Books and gurus seem
> 	  to be the way to go here.  Any good recommendations for a book
> 	  geared towards the experienced UNIX hack on learing CLI?

Your attitude will probably change when you get another drive (hard or
soft) and/or more RAM.  I lived with 1 drive with my old 1000, for a
year before I could afford another floppy drive.  I know what a pain it
was to use CLI.  I used Matt Dillon's shell at that time so that I could
keep my sanity.  Now, as much as I respect Matt for his shell, I still
wouldn't advocate it as a replacement for disk or RAM, but it was a
great for a short while.

CLI really isn't so bad.  1.3's Amiga Shell make CLI downright
comfortable.  Before the shell, I used William Hawes' Conman, but I'm
using NEWCON now because I feel more comfortable using C= supported
programs.  Get the official Amiga DOS manual (it's name escapes me at
the moment).  I don't think there's a 1.3 version, but between the 1.2
version and the paperwork that comes in the 1.3 package you ought to be
okay.  

Under normal circumstances I'd recommend that you use ARP (AmigaDOS
Replacement Project, which replaces and enhances the CLI commands), but 
since ARP 1.3 is still fresh off the presses and, despite the excellent
efforts of cheath and crew, still has a few bugs, you might want to cut 
your teeth with the Commodore stuff.

Good luck.  When the disk swaps get you down, take a deep breath, get
out your check book, and write a check for a new drive.  :-)


Gary
-- 
Gary R Heffelfinger   -  disd@hubcap.clemson.edu   
"If it should become necessary to fight, could you arrange to find me
     some rocks to throw at them?"   W.T. Riker