) Seaman) (12/14/89)
mitchell@cbmvax.UUCP (Fred Mitchell - PA) writes: < wayneck@tekig5.PEN.TEK.COM (Wayne Knapp) writes: < >I ordered a nice [IBM PC clone] system < >from Tri-Star computers and added some from local stores and a couple < >used pieces. Now I have a system that my Amiga 1000 can not even begin < >to stand up too. I have about $3000 in 1985 dollars in my Amiga and < >about $4000 in 1989 dollars in the pc clone. < < What would an equivalent system in today's dollars cost you for the Amiga? < Plus, you're ignoring all the new software/hardware that's available now. I have about $3500 (1989) in my stock Amiga 2500/20, and it clearly outperforms the $7000+ 25 MHz 386 PC I use at work (with the possible exception of my rather slow hard disk, which can be remedied. < >Now I'm not trying to take a poke at the Amiga. Are you sure about that? < >After all what I'm doing < >with the pc clone today would not have been possible in 1985. And one of the major reasons that the PC market has these 'improvements' is due to the existence of the Amiga. < >The computer market place waits for < >no one. So I concure that a Amiga 3000 is needed today and it must be < >32 bits... This is true to some degree. < >Just look at what I was < >able to put together for less than $4000. < > < > 25 MHz 386 mini tower (8 expansion slots) < > 100 MByte IDE hard disk, 32k disk cache < > 1.2 Mbyte & 1.44 Mbyte floppies (5.5" and 3.25") < > VGA wonder 512k (can do 1024 x 768 x 256) < > Professional Image Borad (NTSC out 512x512x32000) < > Sony CDP-1303 multisync < > Turdo C Professional (15000 lines compiles/links in 1 minute!!!) < < 15000 lines compiles AND links in ONE minute? I have a hard time < believing that, considering all the includes and other factors, but < I'll take your word on it. It would probably be very close to that figure, but that in no way reflects the viability of the hardware. After all, Borland made their compiler fame by providing almost the same performance on a stock PC XT. Does this mean that we should all run out and buy a 4.77 MHz 8088 machine? I think not. < >As you can see it is a lot of stuff and it is very fast. Multitasking < >is availiable with DeqView 386, Windows 386 and OS/2, plus you can use < >Unix if you want. Yes, UNIX is available for the 386 market, but it will also be available for the Amiga, probably before I will be ready to purchase it (need to save up enough pennies). As far as 'multitasking' with Windows/386, apparently you haven't used it much. In my experience, on a 25 MHz 386, with 8 MB of RAM, it works very well, at least until I try to do two or more things at once, such as printing a file. At that point, either I get a 'Not enough memory' dialog box, or the machine starts behaving like its grandfather, the XT. Did I mention that it (Windows) locks up more than twice as often as my Amiga? < >Everything is easy to buy today, and it all works. < >The graphics speed is at least a good or better than my Amiga 1000, at < >least I can draw pattern filled polygons with it much faster than on the < >Amiga. < < Come on! You're comparing a base 68000 with the horsepower of a 80386! < Now, if your Amiga has a 68030, then its a fair comparison. Not likely with < a 1000. This is one of those cases where someone is apparently trying to convince someone (themselves?) that they have made a good choice. If the PC clone works for you, that's great. I used PC's (8086, 80286, and 80386) on a daily basis, both at work and home, for over four years before deciding which computer I should buy. During that time, I also had an Amiga 1000 which was semi-permanently loaned to me by my brother (after upgrading to an A2000). When I did decide, the choice was clear, and I have not regretted it. I bought an Amiga. < > Wayne Knapp < < Fred Mitchell < (NOTE: This is NOT intended as a flame, but something to clarify < a few points.) < < -To Life, Immortal < mitchell@cbmvax.UUCP Likewise, this is not intended to start a 'my system is better than yours' war. There are a lot of things I like about Intel based machines. However, if I have to make a choice, the Amiga wins, hands down. -- Chris (Insert phrase here) Seaman | ___-/^\-___ crs@cpsc6a.att.com <or> | //__--\O/--__\\ nI' yIyIn 'ej yIchep. ...!att!cpsc6a!crs | // \\ The Home of the Killer Smiley | `\ /'