[comp.sys.amiga] Amiga 2000

ugblaszy@sunybcs.UUCP (02/05/87)

Netters,

I just received the March issue of Compute!  It talks about the NEW Amiga2000.
I have not heard any discussion on the net, or in this news group so I thought
I would include this article to tell everyone ( that's if they already don't
know).  I will quickly summarize the article ( if that's possible ).  Commodore
has included alot of IDEAS that fellow netters were looking for.

Summary of Article : ( Note : I just got the mag. and I am reading and typing
at the same time, so be patient.  This source is taken  from Compute! mag from
the March 1987 issue.  So I hope most of there info is correct.

Amiga 2000  - price under- $1500
The "basic" machine has one 3.5 drive, SEVEN expansion slots, three drive ports,
and a 200-watt power supply, and a CHOICE between a $300 or $500 monitor.  The
Amiga2000 is completely software compatible with Amiga1000.  Uses the "standard"
operating system 1.2.  

Quoted from compute! :

Two keys of expandability at low cost are the optional Amiga Bridge card, which
allows the Amiga to run IBM PC software ( yecch ),  and PC-compatible expansion
slots on the machine's main circuit board.  Note,  with a Bridge equipped Amiga
2000, you could read documents directly from IBM floppy disk and process them
for publishing on the Amiga end system.  The two processors communicate over a
shared memory area.  

( If your getting BORED hit 'n' NOW because this going to be a long review )

EXTERNALS :  The case is considerably taller to make room for extra internal
hardware and expansion slots.  The overall shape is the same as the Amiga1000.
The front panel has room for 3-drives (2-3.5 drives & 1 5.25 drive half-height )
The mouse, joystick and keyboard ports are now grouped together on the FRONT.
The 2000 has the same parallel printer port and rs-232 serial port as IBM-pc.

VIDEO AND SOUND:  as in the 1000, the 2000 is controlled by the chips, Agnes,
Denise amd Paula.  The 2000 has all the screen modes of the 1000 and includes
the same-4 channel sound system.   Two new monitors the a2002 monitor is a
switchable rgb - composite video.  And the a2080,  is a LONG-persistence 
monitor.  Note to use composite , you need a a2060 comp./rf modulator. Also,
Commodore has included a MIDI interface OPTION the a1400 MIDI.  It includes
midi IN, OUT, THROUGH.

INTERNALS :  same microprocessor as 1000.  Motorola 68000 at clock speed of
7.14meghz.  Optional ( from commodore??? ), is a acclerator board 32-bit
Motorola 68020 at 14 Mhz, a MMU, and cache memory.  Can also accept a 68881
math cooprocessor.   Comes with 1 MEG of memory.  The 2000 has 256K of ROM
that contains the OS.  An optional, hard disk/SCSI contoller ( from commodore ).
The card, includes 2-hard disk interfaces and a high-speed tape drive for
backing up a hard drives contents.  Also, includes a built-in clock/calendar
with battery backup for time and date-stamping.


I could go on forever but this is JUST supposed to be a quick review.

I would like to disclaim any wrong information that I might have stated.  
Most of this article is from the Compute magazine.  

What was that a Rumor about a AMiGA 2000,  it is more than just a rumor,
it is real.

To Dave Wecker, thanks for the VT100 term emulator, do you know of any good
introduction and reference books for Image processing.  To Matt Dillon, for
his work on the Amiga, Thank You.

Well have to go and SAVE some money,

DAVE 

!! disclaimer !! disclaimer !! disclaimer !! disclaimer !! disclaimer !!

		Dave Blaszyk  
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
uucp:   {decvax!watmath}
        {pur-ee!rocks34!rocksvax}
        {{allegra, seismo}!rochester!rocksvax} !sunybcs!ugblaszy
Bitnet: ugblaszy@sunybcs
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

grr@cbmvax.UUCP (02/09/87)

In article <2226@sunybcs.UUCP> ugblaszy@sunybcs.UUCP (David V. Blaszyk) writes:
>Netters,
>
>I just received the March issue of Compute!  It talks about the NEW Amiga2000.
>I have not heard any discussion on the net, or in this news group so I thought
>I would include this article to tell everyone ( that's if they already don't
>know).  I will quickly summarize the article ( if that's possible ).  Commodore
>has included alot of IDEAS that fellow netters were looking for.

Somebody at Compute! apparently made a big mistake and published the article
before the authorized release date.  While the article may be substantially
correct ;-), we (Commodore Peons) have been asked not to discuss the new
machines until the Official Commodore Product Announcement.  As I understand
it, this will be in within the next couple of weeks.

One caution I would suggest is that anyone discussing the new machine or
The Compute! article should please try to make a clear distinction between
the possibilities that such a new machine creates and what will actually be
available on days 1 thru n.  There are enough good things there without
unintentionally creating false or exaggerated expectations.

-- 
George Robbins - now working for,	uucp: {ihnp4|seismo|rutgers}!cbmvax!grr
but no way officially representing	arpa: cbmvax!grr@seismo.css.GOV
Commodore, Engineering Department	fone: 215-431-9255 (only by moonlite)

hatcher@INGRES.BERKELEY.EDU.UUCP (02/23/87)

I'm told that I was incorrect: Commodore *did* announce the Amiga 2000
at the Commodore Show, they just didn't *release* it. They did explicitly
mention the word "June" when pressed. Someone asked what year, and they
said "1987". We'll see, but at least it was said explicitly.
	Doug

cagordon@watnot.UUCP (03/31/87)

Her{ is some info which might be of interest of someone. I got it from
QuantumLink:

SUBJ: Amiga 2000 Press Release   (R1)
FROM: RBAKER      03/25/87   S#: 508233  

New Commodore Amiga 2000

Features IBM Option, Open Architecture

Expandability, Multi-Tasking Highlight Performance

  The  Commodore Amiga 2000 computer,  which debuted in March at  the  Hanover 
  Fair  in  West Germany,  features an open architecture with  seven  internal 
  expansion  slots  and a megabyte of built-in memory.  This new  addition  to 
  Commodore's  Amiga  family of personal computers also provides  an  optional 
  "bridge"  to  IBM-PC  compatibility,  making it one of the most  unique  and 
  versatile  personal computers on the market.  The Amiga 2000 uses  the  same 
  68000 microprocessor as the current Amiga 1000, and is completely compatible 
  with  existing  Amiga  V1.2  system  software.  Its  acclaimed  multitasking 
  capabilities  make it able to run both Amiga and IBM-PC applications at  the 
  same  time.  According to Nigel Shepherd,  general manager,  Commodore North 
  America,  both Commodore and independent manufacturers will offer Amiga 2000 
  plug-in cards for a variety of applications.  These cards include  expansion 
  memory  (up  to  9  MB total),  hard  disk  drive  controllers,  68020/68881 
  coprocessors  for  advanced scientific and  graphics  applications,  genlock 
  video synchronizers,  and video digitizers.  Most cards designed for  IBM-PC 
  computers  can  be  used  in the A2000 when the  optional  Bridge  Board  is 
  installed.  In addition to one built-in 3.5",  880 KB disk drive,  the Amiga 
  2000  can accept two more storge devices mounted internally:  a second  3.5" 
  and one 5.25" drive.

          IBM COMPATIBILITY

  IBM  compatibility  on  the Amiga 2000 is achieved using  the  A2088  Bridge 
  Board,  a Commodore plug-in card with an Intel 8088 microprocessor, the same 
  chip  used  in the IBM-PC XT computer.  The Bridge Board comes  with  MS-DOS 
  software version 3.2.  Another IBM-C AT-compatible Bridge Board based on the 
  more  powerful 80286 microprocessor will be available from Commodore in  the 
  future under the model number A2286.

            ADD-ON MEMORY
 
  Commodore will provide a memory expansion board to augment the Amiga  2000's 
  standard  one  megabyte  of memory.  The A2050 RAM expansion  board  can  be 
  configured  with  either a half-megabyte,  one megabyte or two megabytes  of 
  RAM.  "Software developers have been ager to tap the Amiga's sound, graphics 
  and video chips,  and that takes memory," said Mr.  Shepherd. "Now they will 
  have enough memory to unleash the full power the Amiga offers."

  "In addition,  the Amiga 2000's large memory and superb graphics make it  an 
  outstanding  choice  for desktop publishing as well as for maintaining  huge 
  databases and spreadsheets. Even the most demanding users will never outgrow 
  the Amiga 2000," Mr. Sheperd added.

              FEATURES

  The  Amiga  2000  is  being introduced simultaneously  with  the  Amiga  500 
  computer,  an affordable,  full-performance Amiga intended for sophisticated 
  home users.

  Both the Amiga 2000 and the Amiga 500 share the following features:

  * Motorola 68000 CPU operatins at 7.14 MHz
  * 4096 color graphics driven by high-speed custom graphics hardware
  * 4 channel left/right sound generation and built-in speech
  * compatible with the current Amiga 1000 version 1.2 system software
  * ROM resident V1.2 Kickstart/kernal
  * parallel and serial ports usin industry-standard connectors
  * new 94-key keyboard with separate numeric keypad, ten function keys,  
    inverted-T cursor pad and larger Enter and Shift keys.
  * AmigaDOS, Workbench (the window oriented user interface), two-button mouse 
    and AmigaBASIC from Microsoft Corp. included in the package.

  The  Amiga 2000 will be available in the first half of 1987 at  a  suggested 
  retail price of $1499.

--
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chris Gordon                     UUCP: {abunchasystems}!watmath!watnot!cagordon
U of Waterloo, Ont         CompuServe: 72030,104
		               Q-Link: ChrisG22
				CSNET: cagordon%watnot@Waterloo.CSNET
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When you care enough to send the very best, send MONEY!

shimoda@rmi.UUCP (Markus Schmidt) (04/23/88)

Flame(MAXULONG)

Hi all!

How glad are you A1000-Users.
Just some minutes ago I heard, that the new graphic-chips from CA are
for the 2000 but for the 2000B only. So I feel really p***ed from CA,
since I have paid more for my A2000 than the B2000 costs now. But my
machine is as dead as the 1000 is (ok, it works, fine but I bought 
a machine that was supposed to be expanditive, which has a Zorro II
and god knows what else).
I guess now I know why noone answered my question about new-stuff and
A2000A 2 weeks ago. 

Comments welcome

Cu 
Markus

|._,|
 - -
==O==   Never trust as smiling CATS
 `-'

duncanj@umd5.umd.edu (James Duncan) (04/25/88)

Could someone please explain what the difference in the A2000 and the 
B2000 are? Please note ALL differences that you know of which would
cause incompatibility and upgrade problems. How can you tell them 
apart?
			Thanks,
		          Jim Duncan
		

papa@pollux.usc.edu (Marco Papa) (04/25/88)

In article <2614@umd5.umd.edu> duncanj@umd5 (James Duncan) writes:
>Could someone please explain what the difference in the A2000 and the 
>B2000 are? Please note ALL differences that you know of which would
>cause incompatibility and upgrade problems. How can you tell them 
>apart?

If you are in the US, only B2000s were sold.  If you are in Europe you could
have bought either one.  In term of upgrades these are the 3 main issues (in
my opinion) that make the B2000 "more upgradable" than the A2000:

1. second video slot that provides more RGB data bits.  The FlickerFixer
   from MicrWay will use the second video slot, so it cannot be used with
   the A2000. All boards that use the second slots cannot be used with
   the A2000.

2. 1 Meg Fat Agnus.  The A2000 does not have a Fat Agnus but a whole set
   of chips that have the same function, so the new chip for the B2000
   won't go into it.

3. Coprocessor slot. The behavior of a signals is different and the master
   /slave protocol between a 68000 and 68020 is also different, so for example
   one has to extract the 68000 when adding a 68020 accelerator to a A2000,
   while no such thing is needed with a B2000.

-- Marco


-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
uucp:...!pollux!papa       BIX:papa       ARPAnet:pollux!papa@oberon.usc.edu
 "There's Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Diga!" -- Leo Schwab [quoting Rick Unland]
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

tope@enea.se (Tommy Petersson) (04/25/88)

In article <1064@rmi.UUCP> shimoda@rmi.UUCP (Markus Schmidt) writes:
. Stuff deleted
>Just some minutes ago I heard, that the new graphic-chips from CA are
>for the 2000 but for the 2000B only. So I feel really p***ed from CA,
>since I have paid more for my A2000 than the B2000 costs now. But my
. More deleted stuff

Just how do you tell the difference between A2000's and B2000's?

Any info on when the '286 card will come?

When will the graphics chips come (I know I'm just asking for rumours,
but that's better than nothing. I also have to type in more lines than
there were in the original article, or the poster won't like it)

If/when the graphics chips with non-interlaced video comes, will they
require special coding, or are the old programs going to work "just
like that" ?

bilbo@pnet02.cts.com (Bill Daggett) (04/26/88)

shimoda@rmi.UUCP (Markus Schmidt) writes:
>
>Just some minutes ago I heard, that the new graphic-chips from CA are
>for the 2000 but for the 2000B only. So I feel really p***ed from CA,
>since I have paid more for my A2000 than the B2000 costs now. But my
>machine is as dead as the 1000 is (ok, it works, fine but I bought 
>a machine that was supposed to be expanditive, which has a Zorro II
>and god knows what else).
>
>Markus

Just be still awhile longer.  Stop flaping your arms around.  What software is
out that uses the new graphic chips?  Do you think software developers will
write for the 2000 chips only?  Could a 3rd party adapt the new chips to the
1000 market?  They did a pretty good job giving us internal RAM and Kickstart
in ROM.  Maybe I'll upgrade in another year.  I'm not excited yet.  -- Yawn!

Bill

UUCP: {ihnp4!scgvaxd!cadovax rutgers!marque}!gryphon!pnet02!bilbo
INET: bilbo@pnet02.cts.com
* Sometimes The Dragon Wins! * Still looking for the best Amiga BBS
software to resurrect Bilbo's Hideaway on - but not holding breath!

rpa@gos.ukc.ac.uk (R.P.Almeida) (04/26/88)

In article <8688@oberon.USC.EDU> papa@pollux.usc.edu (Marco Papa) writes:
>In article <2614@umd5.umd.edu> duncanj@umd5 (James Duncan) writes:
>>Could someone please explain what the difference in the A2000 and the 
>>B2000 are? Please note ALL differences that you know of which would
>>cause incompatibility and upgrade problems. How can you tell them 
>>apart?
>
>1. second video slot that provides more RGB data bits.
>2. 1 Meg Fat Agnus.
>3. Coprocessor slot. The behavior of a signals is different.
>

Also

4. The B2000 has 1Mbyte memory on the main board, whereas the A2000 has
   only 0.5Mbyte on the main board, and 0.5Mbyte in a 'half full' 1Mbyte
   board in the Coprocessor slot. This means losing 0.5Mb when you want
   to add the Commodore 68020 card.

5. The B2000 has a composite video output whereas the A2000 doesnt.
   This is probably the easiest way to tell the machines apart, as the
   B2000 has an extra phono jack next to the Audio outputs. (Making a total
   of 3 phono jacks.)

6. CSA 68020 cards don't tend to work in B2000 if you have the Commodore
   A2090 hard disk controller, whereas they do in the A2000 when you change
   one of the PALS on the A2000 main board.

7. The top 0.5Mbytes of memory in the B2000 is half-fast memory, (so as to
   be compatible with the new graphics chips), whereas on the A2000 the
   extra 0.5Mb is true fast memory.


	Richard Almeida.

________________________________________________________________________
These are my personal views/findings and dont represent the views of
the University of Kent in any way.
_________________________________________________________________________

daveh@cbmvax.UUCP (Dave Haynie) (04/29/88)

in article <3127@enea.se>, tope@enea.se (Tommy Petersson) says:
> Keywords: A2000 / B2000
> UUCP-Path: uunet!enea!tope
> 
> In article <1064@rmi.UUCP> shimoda@rmi.UUCP (Markus Schmidt) writes:

> Just how do you tell the difference between A2000's and B2000's?

The easiest way is to look on the back of the unit for RCA-type phono
jacks.  If you see two, it's an A2000; three, a B2000.

-- 
Dave Haynie  "The B2000 Guy"     Commodore-Amiga  "The Crew That Never Rests"
   {ihnp4|uunet|rutgers}!cbmvax!daveh      PLINK: D-DAVE H     BIX: hazy
		"I can't relax, 'cause I'm a Boinger!"

lphillips@lpami.van-bc.UUCP (Larry Phillips) (05/02/88)

In <1413@gos.ukc.ac.uk>, rpa@gos.ukc.ac.uk (R.P.Almeida) writes:
>7. The top 0.5Mbytes of memory in the B2000 is half-fast memory, (so as to
>   be compatible with the new graphics chips), whereas on the A2000 the
>   extra 0.5Mb is true fast memory.

Well, it would have been true FAST memory if they hadn't saddled it with
wait states. It's rather disgusting to find that the second half meg runs
12-18% slower, regardless of DMA. It was the German design, and it makes me
hope that CBM never again allows that team to get anywhere near an Amiga.

  I pulled the half meg, added a Micron 2 meg board (works flawlessly), and
am a lot happier knowing my memory runs at full rated speed.

-larry

--
Janus? Well, look at it this way. If you squint a little, the J could be
       Amiga checkmark, and the rest of the word describes MsDos.
+----------------------------------------------------------------+ 
|   //   Larry Phillips                                          |
| \X/    {ihnp4!alberta!ubc-vision,uunet}!van-bc!lpami!lphillips |
|        COMPUSERVE: 76703,4322                                  |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+

don@vax1.acs.udel.EDU (Donald R Lloyd) (08/05/90)

	FOR SALE:

	Amiga 2000
	3 megs RAM
	48 meg HD
	super agnus
	1.3 OS
	2400 internal modem
	3.5" floppy
	1084S stereo monitor

	A hard drive stuffed with as much PD software as you'd like, and, oh, say..
30 blank floppies.  Mouse & keyboard included, of course.

	I'd like $2000 for the complete system, and don't plan on breaking it up
unless I get separate offers for ALL of it.

Send mail or call (302)-836-3645 and leave a message (unless you're really
lucky & I happen to be home, awake, and not on the phone at the time :-).

-- 
  Gibberish             .sig for sale or lease.
  is spoken             Contact don@vax1.acs.udel.edu for more information.
    here.               DISCLAIMER:  It's all YOUR fault.

Gary_D_Walborn@cup.portal.com (08/07/90)

For sale: (Yet Another Amiga for Sale)
Amiga 2000
1 Meg Chip Ram (Fatter Agnes)
2 Meg Micron Memory Board
2090A Hard Disk Controller w/ ST-251 40 Meg Drive
FlickerFixer
Ronin Hurricane 2000 16 MHz 68020 w/ 68881
Cable for A1000 style serial port
Casper Super VGA Monitor
       or
Thomson 4375 monitor (Multi-Sync)

Around $2500 Depending on Monitor selected and options
Contact: Gary D. Walborn/7551 Sugartree Dr./Youngstown, OH 44512
Phone:   Work: (216) 758-8323 Ext. 242   Home: (216) 726-8450

don@vax1.acs.udel.EDU (Donald R Lloyd) (08/27/90)

	For Sale: 

		Amiga 2000
		1.3 ROMs
		3 megs RAM
		48 MB HD
		super agnus
		2400bd internal modem
		mouse, 3.5" drive, brand new keyboard
		1084S stereo monitor w/"flicker master" screen
		Quite a bit of PD s/w
		MPS1250 Epson-comp. dot printer

		Would like to sell as a package, $1900 + shipping.  All manuals &
original WB disks included, and will throw in a 68010 if you want it.

Call (302)-836-3645 if you feel lucky enough to catch me at home & not 
already on the phone.  Otherwise, e-mail will probably work best.

-- 
  Gibberish             .sig for sale or lease.
  is spoken             Contact don@vax1.acs.udel.edu for more information.
    here.               DISCLAIMER:  It's all YOUR fault.

Fred.Penner@f70.n140.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Fred Penner) (08/31/90)

     There you are!!! I couldn't find you. I have a HECK of a time
trying to reply to your plast message. I was wondering if you could hold
it for me for a sec. I and I know the stuff that I would like.... Ready?
Here it is:
            Amiga 2000 (keybord, mouse, etc.)
            1.3 ROMs
            48 MB Hd
            Super Agnus
            And the A2090A autoboot controller.
 
     Could you gimme a price on those? Thanks ALOT. Talk to you later.
Bye for now.
 
 Fred Penner


--  
Fred Penner - via FidoNet node 1:140/22
UUCP: ...!alberta!herald!weyr!70!Fred.Penner
Domain: Fred.Penner@f70.n140.z1.FIDONET.ORG
Standard Disclaimers Apply...