dennya@pnet02.cts.com (Denny Atkin) (04/05/89)
Gee, for some reason I feel like a heathen actually asking about this, but here goes: I may soon have an opportunity to do some work that would require me to become better acquainted with (ugh!) MS-DOS. I've used PC's as much as the next guy, but for this I would really need to have one at home at my beckon call. I do have the Transformer, but I can't think that slowly. I don't need a hopped up 386 machine, as it would be mainly "home user" type software that I would be running. Anyway, whatever I got would be a supplement to my current Amiga system. If I had a 2000, I'd just pick up an XT bridge board and all would be well, but alas I have a 1000, so that's not an option. The real limiting factor here is money. I'd sell the 1000 and get a 2000/bridge combo, but there's no way I can come up with more than $1000 (and that's going to be pushing it... <$750 would be best). I'm probably going to end up with either an XT Clone or a portable. I want something that would complement my Amiga (ie: 3.5" disks for easy data exchange), and it would be nice to have a portable. Besides, I can use my Amiga monitor with the portable. I have a few questions that perhaps some of you who have dealt with using PC's and Amigas can address: 1) I have a Sony KV-1311CR monitor with RGBA and RGB digital inputs. I know I can use this for CGA (ugh!) display, but will it work with EGA or VGA? How about Tandy 16-color CGA? 2) These are the computers/options I am looking at... Perhaps some of you know the relative advantages/disadvantages of each and could fill me in on them: A) Amstrad PPC-1640 (I think) portable. Full sized kbd, 2 3.5" floppies, 640K, built in 2400 baud modem, icky non-backlit LCD but has CGA output too. Most redeeming feature: clearance sale priced at about $699. Conflicting reports on whether it has 1 slot or not. Anybody out there have or used one of these? B) Used Commodore SideCar. Two *BIG* concerns: I don't think it would work with my Insider RAM board and C Ltd. SCSI interface attached. Would it? And also, will the new Janus software work with the SideCar? Could I set up a JLINKed partition on my C Ltd. drive? (or has anyone ever gotten a bridgeboard to work on the 1000 in one of the smaller card cages?). C) Desktop PC Clone: Commodore Colt (brand loyalty strikes!), Tandy 1000somethingoranother (better game graphics), or bare- bones AT box? I know I SHOULD get a 286 box if I'm going to use a PC, so I can use Windows286 and Desqview, but I don't want to sink that kind of money into it (I wouldn't be happy with less than 1 meg and a hard disk). Tandy makes a cheapo 286 that is really an XT with a 286 wedged in--will this cookie run real 286 software, like OS/2 or Windows286? Suggestions? I'm leaning strongly at the portable, unless someone has a SideCar they want to part with cheaply and can convince me that it will work okay. My main concern with the portable is the inability to add a hard disk. But the ability to have a machine I could take with me when I travel may outweigh that. I would appreciate any comments, suggestions, etc. that you folks could MAIL me. I don't think this is of general interest to the net. Thanks! Denny Atkin +-----------------------------------------------------+---------------------+ | Denny Atkin, Writer at Large //Amiga |"It's all the | | PeopleLink: DENNY \X/ 1000! | truth--except the | | UUCP:{ames!elroy, <backbone>}!gryphon!pnet02!dennya | bits that are lies."| | INET:dennya@pnet02.cts.com | -- Douglas Adams | +-----------------------------------------------------+---------------------+