bob@jacobs.CS.ORST.EDU (robert s. richardson) (12/26/90)
With all this discussion going on about the Amiga(s) of tomorrow, an
apparent need for a "complete" low-cost solution that is a class above
the A500 is apparent.
Here is my suggestion to Commodore for a new machine that requires
just a little re-engineering on their part. Keep in mind that I really
have no idea about how actual mfg. costs work on something the scale
of an Amiga, so I have estimated my rough costs on the high side just
in case. I am assuming that the suggested list for a standard A500
is currently around $500.00 US.
STEP ONE:
Take your basic A500 motherboard, throw in a board similar to the
A501, but more like the 3rd party boards that allow multiple megs
to reside on the board. Include a system total of at least 2MB (more
on why later), and include both ECS chips (Agnus & Denise).
Adding the 2MB RAM and ECS would probably raise the list by $250, for a
total so far of $750.00
STEP TWO:
Design an SCSI (ST-506 if you need to cut costs) controller that sits
over the motherboard, that connects (perhaps with a T-type connector)
to the 86-pin expansion bus while also passing the bus through in
roughly the same position that it has always existed.
Front Side View
Ribbon cable --> +----XXXXX <-- HD Controller
|
Expansion Connector --> XX--+--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX <- Motherboard
^
T Connector
Adding the HD controller hardware might raise the list by $150, now
brining our sub-totale to $900
STEP THREE:
Put the whole thing in a "pizza box" style case with internal power
supply, detatched keyboard, and small QUIET fan. If possible, move
the single 3.5" floppy to the front right of the case instead of
the side. Also leave a cut-out to place a 2nd internal floppy. I'm
sure a 3rd party vendor will find a way to make use of it.
The enhanced case, power supply, and keyboard will probably add another
$100, so we are now at an even $1000. Note that the $100 is obviously
not the cost of the case, etc., but indicates the EXTRA cost over making
a standard A500.
STEP FOUR:
Include a 20MB minimum hard drive. This ads $150, brining us to $1150.
STEP FIVE:
Include a 1084-equivalent monitor: $350.
WHAT DO YOU GET?
A complete system with hard drive, color monitor, 2mb ram, detachable
keyboard, ready-to-go, for $1500. Remember that a Mac-Classic with
hard drive lists for the same, only has 1MB, and is NOT color.
EXPLANATIONS:
Why 2MB instead of 1MB? It is essentially necessary to have this much ram
to PRODUCTIVELY utilize WB 2.0. It is important that this machine be
very productive right out of the box.
Why a hard drive? Again basically necessary to PRODUCTIVELY use WB 2.0.
And in order to go after the would-be MAC buyer, an ATTRACTIVE and complete
user interface like WB2.0 is a must. I would sincerely hope that Commodore
does not introduce a mid-line machine in the near future with only WB1.3
Set this machine right next to a Mac-Classic HD and see what people prefer.
Perhaps it should be called the A1000 Classic, or the A1001, or similar.
I would not call it the A1000-II, because that might infer to some
people a substantial re-design (68020, etc.)
Can it be done for that price right now? I don't know. The A500 is
already heavily discounted. Any opinions/denials from anyone at
Commodore?
OPTIONS:
If by some chance you have $$$ left over to make the $1500 price point,
how about making some sort of internal expansion slot while still being
able to pass the buss outside if necessary? Some sort of C shaped
connector that puts a slot up over the motherboard?
How about making the display enhancer optional? A machine as described
above with a De-Interlacer and a 1950 would be formidable at $2000.
Allow users to select configurations with larger hard drives.
Give me one.
Any comments appreciated. Flames accepted, I'm a pyromaniac.
| Bob Richardson (or, for you UNIX buffs: bob@jacobs.cs.orst.edu) |
| 218 NW 21st #2 Corvallis, OR 97330 503-758-5018 |
| __ |
| \/ WI- GR+ F++ ST* GL- SC++ MU& WH WE& SF+ YA++ SN- NU-- SW- SR+ |kdarling@hobbes.ncsu.edu (Kevin Darling) (12/28/90)
bob@jacobs.CS.ORST.EDU (robert s. richardson) asks for a new Amiga model with close to these features (without monitor): 1. More onboard memory capability 2. SCSI port 3. Nice case with room for another drive 4. 20meg Hard disk 5. $1150 or so price Actually, it seems to me that a third party could buy A500's at wholesale, drop the motherboard into a clone case, and add the RAM, a SCSI interface and HD, and come up with pretty close to what you wanted. But they wouldn't be making lots of money, and the keyboard could be a problem (either slice up the old A500 case, make new case, or use a Northgate?). Haven't kept up with the ECS prices either... that could make a diff. I think CBM could do your machine tho. After all, we managed to come close to that, building the MM/1 computer. And we certainly don't have the buying power or R&D resources of CBM. But we don't have their overhead, either ;-). In any case, I suspect they like to hear what people want. I wonder if CBM has a skunkworks where a few engineers think about, and mock up, different and future models? Dave H? <kdarling@catt.nscu.edu>
jesup@cbmvax.commodore.com (Randell Jesup) (01/06/91)
In article <1990Dec26.021940.29445@usenet@scion.CS.ORST.EDU> bob@jacobs.CS.ORST.EDU (robert s. richardson) writes: >Include a 20MB minimum hard drive. This ads $150, brining us to $1150. Don't forget that commodore has markup to apply, and things like that are available competitively enough that Commodore can't buy them too much more cheaply than you can. Ditto for ram. (We do get some break, of course, for volume.) -- Randell Jesup, Keeper of AmigaDos, Commodore Engineering. {uunet|rutgers}!cbmvax!jesup, jesup@cbmvax.commodore.com BIX: rjesup The compiler runs Like a swift-flowing river I wait in silence. (From "The Zen of Programming") ;-)