db@cs.ed.ac.uk (Dave Berry) (09/27/90)
I've had several replies to my message about Amiga competitiveness. As a result I'm going to look harder at some of my assumptions. Several people said that Windows 3 doesn't really compete with AmigaDos as it's far too large and inefficient. I'm going to take a good look at Windows - if it wasn't for the existence of Windows 3 I don't think I'd even bother looking at a PC/AT clone. Some people remarked that there wasn't much software for Windows 3. I can't see that remaining the case for long. My attitude to flicker in interlaced modes came in for some criticism, One person suggested using a mono monitor for hi-res text work, which I'll look into. I'll also have another look at the quality of the various modes. But good screen resolution and lack of flicker is important for me. It's the main reason that I'm junking my cheap PC clone instead of expanding it (though there are more minor reasons too - e.g. I'd like a decent OS & UI at the heart of things). Perhaps good quality screens are like multi-tasking; you don't know what you're missing until you've used one. I'm used to workstation screens, and although I can't get that quality on a home computer I want to get the best I can for my money. I should explain that I don't see the animation facilities of an Amiga as particularly important. CDTV might be (and I guess that the two are linked). The animation stuff might make some games and packages better, but I don't plan to use it directly. Finally, some people asked why I was looking at a 2000 instead of a 500 or 3000. I'll take a look at any educational prices available on the 3000 here, but I expect that I can't afford it (shame). I prefer the 2000 to the 500 because I could get a flicker-fixer for it if I decided I needed it, or a bridgeboard + VGA card if I needed that. There is an AT board for the 500 now, but I don't know how expandable the 500 is overall. Perhaps I should work out whether I will want to expand my system or not before I buy - but I don't like the idea of not being able to expand it if circumstances change. As for why I would want a bridgeboard, its basically because I might need to run the same software as someone else with a PC. With a bridgeboard I could run the new software without junking my existing set-up, and for half the price of buying a separate PC/AT. Thanks for all the replies; you've been very helpful. -- Dave Berry, LFCS, Edinburgh Uni. db%lfcs.ed.ac.uk@nsfnet-relay.ac.uk Snuffsaidbutgorblimeyguvstonemeifhedidn'tthrowawobblerchachachachachacha chachachachachayou'regoinghomeinacosmicambience.