Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uwm.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!swrinde!kent
From: kent@swrinde.nde.swri.edu (Kent D. Polk)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.tech
Subject: Re: Performance comparison of A2500/30 vs IBM 386 vs low-end Sparc needed
Message-ID: <25281@swrinde.nde.swri.edu>
Date: 26 Feb 90 18:44:22 GMT
References: <6593@cps3xx.UUCP>
Reply-To: kent@swrinde.UUCP (Kent D. Polk)
Organization: Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas
Lines: 51

In article <6593@cps3xx.UUCP> wille@frith.egr.msu.edu () writes:
>I am putting together a research workstation for a major project
>at Michigan State University and need some help in choosing a
>computer to serve as the platform.  The workstation will be used
>to obtain and process images and thermocouple data, and will
>serve simultaneously as a motion controller.
[...]
>I am aware that there are data acquisition boards for the Amiga,
>but I need one that has cold junction temperature compensation
>for thermocouple data, and I haven't seen any motion controller
>boards for the Amiga.  I can get a Sparc for about 7k.

1) If I remember correctly there are many iSBX thermocouple boards
around.  Use ASDG's Twin-X -> 2 iSBX boards per. (Ok Perry, there's my
promo, now how about that GPIB device driver :^)

2) There are many rs-232 based motion control boxes also. Check them
out. If you want to use the Compumotor stuff & it is low speed, you
might want to just the XT bridgeboard & save a slot & some money.

3) Developers and edu institutions get darned good price breaks on
Amiga's also.

>Any insight into this problem would be greatly appreciated
>(including options I have not considered).  We quite often have
>VIP's touring our lab, and it would be a great opportunity to
>show off the capabilities of the Amiga.  I must make a decision
>soon, so please respond as soon as possible.

re - VIP's. I have found that they are PROJECT oriented, not BOX
oriented, unless it happens to be the same box they have on their
desk.

BTW, you might stay in touch. We have been working around the edges of
several projects similar to this & will be diving in shortly. From the
initial small projects that I have used an Amiga on (2500/20) I have
been very pleased with the results. I would say that the Amiga is in
the unique position of being pretty much the only PC class machine
available with an included real-time graphics oriented OS around. Yes,
I know 'real-time' varies, but projects which have been beyond the
scope of 25 MHz 386 PC's I have been able to accomplish with my
2500/20 with an amazingly small amount of effort. Now the learning
curve is a different matter though :^)

While I'm on the subject, is anyone interested in realtime waveform
processing? If so, (and are serious) drop me a note.

====================================================================
Kent Polk - Southwest Research Institute - kent@swrinde.nde.swri.edu
        Motto : "Anything worth doing is worth overdoing"
====================================================================