jons@islenet.UUCP (Jonathan Spangler) (12/28/85)
excerpts from "Hands ON! (Guided Tour of a `Real Live' Amiga),
Ted Drude, Computer Shopper, January 1986
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..Unfortunately, at this point, the Amiga has some weak spots from its "rushed
introduction. The lack of useful programming documentation for the Amiga is a
case in point. Another problem is little or no software for average users (and
many developers). In time these problems will be rectified, but for now, they
can be frustrating for someone who's just shelled out two grand or so for an
Amiga.
...MicroSoft BASIC was supposed to be shipped with the Amiga, but it wasn't done
in time.
...Like alot of Amiga documentation...it hasn't been released to the public yet
(this is getting ridiculous).
...AmigaDOS is a fantastic multi-taking DOS that is a perfect complement to
Amiga's great hardware. Unfortunately, all the details on how to use this DOS
for programming is found in the (you guessed it) not-yet-released-to-the-public
"AmigaDOS Reference Manual." Almost no DOS information whatsoever is provided in
the error-laden User's Guide.
...includes "ABasiC," or Amiga BASIC interpreter. The label on this disk also
mentions an "Amiga Tutor" program but it isn't included (yet). ABasiC seems to
be a good BASIC interperter...[but] it also has some problems in that it uses a
limited line-editor instead of a full screen editor (quite a let-down for
Commodore users) and it has some small bugs in it. But at least Commodore
included a programming interface with every machine (which is more than can be
said for Apple and its Mac).
...The worst part of ABasiC is that the "Amiga's User Guide," which includes a
section detailing ABasiC, is full of errors. Many of the syntax descriptions and
examples won't run because of obvious typographical errors. This is a further
indication of a rushed introduction for the machine.
...One thing that isn't included is the fancy graphics demos you see on the
Amiga TV commercials. The "bouncing ball" demo, for example, isn't included.
Supposedly, it's for dealers only. Be nice to your dealer, and he may give you a
copy to impress your friends with.
...The disk drive seems to be a tad slow for "hyper-DMA transfer", but not as
bad as the Macintosh's lethargic drives.
...If you're doing any serious software development, I think a second floppy
drive is almost a necessity. When copying files between disks on a single drive
Amiga, you are prompted many times to swap disks. A second drive eliminates
this. A hard disk would also be a big improvement. (Tecmar has a 20 Meg unit due
for shipment "real soon now." Price: $1200 or so.).
...Some of the Amiga's pins [on the serial interface] have voltages on them when
they should be grounded or no connection. Make sure you check the printer or
modem pinouts against the Amiga's documentation before connecting or you might
run into some problems...
the two video chips (`Denise' and `Agnus' are the most interesting.
Just how you get those graphic chips to work in your programs is somewhat
difficlut to understand, to the uninitiated, but Commodore promises to reveal
all secrets..in time. Right now, only those on the Commodore-approved
"developer's list" can get that information. (Booo!)
...the more colors on the screen at once, the more Ram and processor overhead is
required to maintain them. So even though 4096 are possible, the Amiga usually
only displays about 16 or 32 different colors at once.
...Some Amiga owners are using Sony RGB monitors. Sony has a line of "super hi-
res" analog RBG monitors that even Commodore is rumored to have been using for
their own development work.
...If you're on a budget, you might look at the Commodore's other monitor, the
1902...Some claim that [the 1902 and the Amiga monitor] are the exact same
monitor with only a sticker on thr front being different. Since the 1902 is
running for $250 or so at discount, and the Amiga monitor is selling for $500 at
retail, you might buy the 1902 if you can stand having "Commodore" and not
"Amiga" on the front panel of the monitor. (By the way, don't expect your Amiga
dealer to either know this or tell you about it.)
...If you're on a very low budget, you can hook your Amiga up to a TV set (
throught an RF modulator) or a composite monochrome monitor. But, I'd wait until
I could get an RGB monitor. I mean, the hi-res color graphics are more that half
of what the Amiga system is all about, anyway. Anything less than an RGB monitor
on an Amiga is like training wheels on an F-15 fighter. Why hold back the
potentional if you're going all out? It defeats the purpose.
As a final note on the Amiga monitor, the initial specs for it included a stereo
audio amp. Well, it ain't there. You only get mono. You have to use a "Y"
connector to get both channels hooked up to the mono amp. Of course you can hook
the two Amiga sound output channels up to your stereo and skip the wimpy little
monitor speaker, anyway.
...the Amiga's video chips can only access into the first 512K of RAM, so all
graphics and display memory have to be there too. In a 256K machine, things
start to get tight real quick. You will usually have a lot less than 190K left
for programming, especially when running animated graphics. For this reason,
most of the fancy graphic demos for the Amiga need 512K to run.
...If you are doing software development, you should consider getting the extra
256K at purchase time (a $200 option). If you aren't writing fancy graphics
programs yet, that extra RAM can also be put to use as a RAMDisk.
...Documentation and Price -- The Downfall of a Hero?
So, while the Amiga has a lot going for it, and I do mean a lot, it aslso has
some temporary (I assume), but serious shortcomings. Like a shortage of
available applications software, little technical documentation (remember, this
is a real production model I saw, not a "for review" prototype), and a price
that will keep it out of the traditional Commodore markets (for a while). As
long as these shortcomings are not addressed by Commodore, I think the Amiga
will be a slow seller, and an apparent flop to "outsiders" (i.e. those who
aren't Commodore "true believers").
The high price, especially will be a hindrance, because the Amiga is going to
experience head to head competition (and comparison) with a computer from
Commodore's life-long nemesis, Atari. The Atari 520ST doesn't quite have all the
sophistication of the Amiga. But it has a fair amount of it. That may be enough
to sell it to those who "want an Amiga" but will "settle for an Atari." The same
technique worked well with a lot of people who bought a Commodore 64 instead of
an Apple II. In my opinion, the Atari will have the marketing edge as long as
there is a price difference between the two of several hundred dollars (
currently it's closer to $1000 difference).
So, I hope and expect Commodore to get the price of thae base unit under $1,000
in the next year. When that happens, sales will pick up and the software will
flow. Until then, expect to hear more success stories about the Atari than the
Amiga.
...[cost is] almost two grand for a system with no printer and precious little
software! We aren't talking about a little game machine for the kids anymore.
Trying to get a discount on this thing is useless. The demand is still too high.
Development Package -- Promises from Pennsylvania. If you are lucky enough to
get the "Developer's Package," a lot of the documentation problems will be
solved. There may be some errata to contend with, but at least you won't spend
hours (like we did) trying to discover the right syntax for CLI commands...Good
luck trying to get one.
If you are willing to be a pioneer and take a risk, becoming one of the first
Amiga owners might pay off. If you can stand the lack of software and
documentation, the arrogant attitude of Commodore towards average Amiga owners,
and the reproach of being a non-conformist, you may find that mastering one of
the most powerful personal computers ever built...can be an exhilarating
experience.
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Just reading the news, although I would be interested in what you think about
Mr. Drude's comments on the Amiga.
I think he has said all I would have wanted to... blessed are the
Volkswagens.
Aloha,
--
Jonathan Spangler
{ihnp4,vortex,dual}!islenet!jons
"On Thursday, the world came to an end."