Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!mailrus!wuarchive!psuvax1!rutgers!cunixf.cc.columbia.edu!cunixb.cc.columbia.edu!es1 From: es1@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Ethan Solomita) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga Subject: Re: IBM vs AMIGA cost Message-ID: <1990Mar10.170345.23418@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu> Date: 10 Mar 90 17:03:45 GMT References: <5527@ur-cc.UUCP> <4251@vaxwaller.UUCP> <4422@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU> <4254@vaxwaller.UUCP> Sender: usenet@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu (The Network News) Reply-To: es1@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Ethan Solomita) Organization: Columbia University Lines: 44 In article rg20+@andrew.cmu.edu (Rick Francis Golembiewski) writes: >richc@vaxwaller.UUCP (Rich Commins) writes: > >No I'm comparing this to my AMIGA 1000. >> >> Four years ago AMIGA Today IBM >> -------------------- --------- >> $2500 AMIGA system $2400 IBM 80386 with 80387 co-processor >> $ 500 Monitor (Sony) $ 600 Monitor NEC 3D >> $1000 20Meg harddisk $ 500 65 Meg Harddisk 28msec >> $ 700 2Meg memory $ 400 4 Megs of 80ns memory >> ----- ------ >> $4700 $3800 >> + $$$$$ for software + $$$$$ for software >> >> Four years ago a dollar was worth more! >You forgot a VERY big consideration for the amiga side +4YEARS USE of >a COMPUTER. Computers (and cars) are in general a TERRIBLE investment Fellow Amigans, let's face facts: any comparison between an equivalently equipped Amiga and PC CLONE will usually give a cheaper clone, for what most people want. When I say equivalent, I mean equal memory, hard drive space, software. The comparison above isn't valid because the $400 for 4MB of 80ns can't possibly be 32 bit, as the $700 is. I have recently seen 2MB of 32bit ram sold for $500 installed. An IBM will probably be somewhat more than an Amiga, although clones are generally less. However, you don't get the same kind of machine. You get MS-DOS. You don't get multitasking or a friendly environment. You get memory-management problems because of 640K barriers. There are definitely advantages to the Amiga, but if you are looking for some cheapy word processor, I would not recommend the Amiga for most people, primarily as you would end up with either a flickery screen or a low-res screen. The Amiga's advantages are shown in its flexibility to use multiple programs. If your interests are more varied than word processing, or if you are looking for a higher end machine, then the Amiga gains the high-road. But let's stop trying to say that Amigas are cheaper than clones. They aren't, even with educational discounts, to someone who only needs IBM Compatibility and what comes with that. -- Ethan Ethan Solomita: es1@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu Compu$erve : 70137,3271 Anyone giving away Amigas or Sharp Scanners???