dld@f.gp.cs.cmu.edu (David Detlefs) (08/16/88)
I'm looking to buy a cheap but technically advanced computer. I'm a computer science grad student, and I would (eventually) like a home environment as much like my work environment as possible. I would also like to use my home machine as a MIDI sequencer. It seems like either an Atari Mega ST or an Amiga 500 or 2000 are the likely candidates. I was wondering if any of the readers of these newsgroup would care to offer any (non-religious) comments on the relative merits of these machines. I will attempt to put forth some pros and cons as I perceive them, and hope that people will add to or comment on these comments. I'd also be interested in some recent price quotes to see if my local dealers are out of line. I'm going to compare the Mega 2 to an Amiga 2000. Perceived Atari Pluses... 1) Cheaper. (Quoted locally $1700 vs $2200 for Amiga). 2) More Memory -- 2 Meg Standard vs. 1. 3) Built in MIDI Ports -- saves a small expense. Perceived Amiga Pluses... 1) Better graphics? Do I correctly recall that the Amiga has more colors available and has more bit-planes? Or is this not the case? Is there a difference in the performance of the blitters? 2) Multi-tasking operating system. 3) Better upgrade paths... I've read, on these news groups and elsewhere, about 1000x800 monitors for the Amiga, 68020 + Coprocessor boards, Unix, X, etc available, or nearly so, for the Amiga, but nothing nearly this exciting for the Atari. Any Atari fans wish to rebut this asssertion? Any Amiga fans to add to this list? 4) I have a vague sense that there is more software written for the Amiga. I realize that a post of this nature runs the risk of inciting a flame war. However, I am quite honestly confused. I hope people will be polite and considered in their responses. If there is interest, I will summarize. Thanks... Dave Detlefs, Carnegie-Mellon CS.
bryan@cs.utexas.edu (Bryan Bayerdorffer) (08/16/88)
In article <2711@pt.cs.cmu.edu> dld@f.gp.cs.cmu.edu (David Detlefs [wearing jewel-encrusted battle shorts]) writes: =-nothing nearly this exciting for the Atari. Any Atari fans wish to =-rebut this asssertion? Any Amiga fans to add to this list? =- "Unfortunately, in the V'lhurg language, the phrase 'I seem to be having problems deciding which computer best fits my lifestyle' was the most vile insult imaginable, and there was nothing for it but to wage terrible intergalactic war for centuries." I predict that, due to a tragic miscalculation in size, we will all shortly be swallowed by a small PClone. ______________________________________________________________________________ /_____/_____/_____/_____/_____/_____/_____/_____/_____/_____/_____/_____/_____/ |_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____| _No dark sarcasm in the classroom|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|___ |____Teachers leave the kids alone__|_____|_____|_____|_bryan@cs.utexas.edu___| ___|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|{ihnp4,seismo,...}!cs.utexas.edu!bryan_ |_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|_____|
denbeste@bbn.com (Steven Den Beste) (08/16/88)
And so, another guy tries to stir up trouble. Atari/Amiga has had more than one war in the continuing "My computer is better than yours" saga, and we don't need another. Please, everyone, I know how convenient the "F" key is, but DON'T followup the original article. Please send MAIL to the pyro who posted it. To the pyro: DON'T "summarize for the net" - keep it to yourself, or MAIL copies of your conclusions to anyone who expresses interest. Flame wars between the Amiga and Atari are like basketball games between the Lakers and the Celtics - at this point they know each other's moves, and whatever the result, it never seems to make any difference. Let's not start another one, OK? Everyone practice restraint, please.
geoffs@smoke.ARPA (Geoffrey Sauerborn ) (08/17/88)
ATARI VS. AMIGA: WHAT TO BUY? * the bottom line is -- whatever you like best. * but here are some thoughts: WORK/SCHOOL OS features: ======================== What kind of environment are you using at work/school? It is Likely Multi-tasking. (VAX VMS, UNIX, ?) - (AMIGA & ST) If VMS, I don't know of any VMS look-alikes for either machine. there is a PD editor (TVX) that can be configured to look like the VMS EDT editor I think... I know it can be made to look like VI and emacs/jove/uemacs... (unix). - (AMIGA) If unix at work,... unix editor PD look-a-likes "vi" and "emacs" are available. (They are also available on the ST). - (ST) If unix at work, then note that an ST version of MINIX has gone to Prentice Hall for distribution (out in Sept? - check comp.os.minix on when). You are familiar with MINIX? It is Version 7 unix look alike muli-tasking OS, comes with compiler and unix-behaving tools. - (AMIGA) As you know the Amiga has multi-tasking built in, so it you can handle a different interface from the one at work, but are used to multi-tasking, you are already set. - (ST) UNIX? Today *now* there is a nice PD shell on the ST (gulam) that looks a lot like the unix shell with many of the commands. The editor is emacs-like, and you can pause the editor, escape to the shell, compile a program, then bring the editor back to the fore ground (via "fg" a-la unix). Not multi-tasking. Context switching, but it is the unix look and feel. - Note: Amiga and ST can run MSDOS stuff with appropriate add-on's. ST cam also run MAC stuff with appropriate add-on's. MIDI: ===== The ST came with midi's built in and this has generated a lot of ST midi software. Buy a copy of STart magazine. There are always adds in that artist-oriented magazine for music editors, and multiple other midi programs. I do not know what midi stuff is available on the AMIGA. I think there is a large library of midi software on the PC market. You may wish to look here too... Final suggestions: 1. Get several machine specific magazines on both computers. Try to stay away from those published by the machine manufacture; they tend to be censored and over-hyped: "See how great we are!!!!!!!!". 2. Please try before you buy. - you may hate the feel of the keyboard. *BOTH* good computers, you probably can't go wrong what ever you choose. To be fair, I do not own an Amiga. I own 2 Commodors (the VIC-20 & C64) am the happy owner of 1 Atari (the ST). I will not suggest either computer over the other. That is a personal preference. A choice only you can make. My experience with both companys is about the same. They are probably on a par with the rest of the retail computer industry. -- ---> geoffs@brl.arpa -- -- ---> geoffs@brl.arpa --
cj@whuxr.UUCP (HETMAN) (08/18/88)
> > ATARI VS. AMIGA: WHAT TO BUY? > > * the bottom line is -- whatever you like best. * > but here are some thoughts: > I have both an Amiga 2000 and a 1 meg upgraded 520 ST. They are really more similar then most owners of either machine would like to admit. I had the ST first and got quite comfortable with it. Adapting to the Amiga took more time then I thought. Simple things on the ST Gem interface seemed awkward on the Amiga. I also have the Magic Sac on my ST which gives me a feel for that desktop. Of the Three I find the Mac to be the least user friendly, followed by the Amiga with the Atari the most friendly. Graphically, the Amiga has an edge but this edge is more noticable on paper than on the screen. I have many identical programs on both machines which when compared on the same work bench show very small differences. Defender of the Crown (A one time highly praised graphic program on the Amiga) actually has better colors and contrast on the ST then on the Amiga. I'm using a Nec Multisync monitor on the Amiga which I feel is more than capable of doing the Amiga justice. The Amiga version is a little cuter with its use of hardware sprites to wave flags, and move the characters heads in an otherwise still frame. The more impressive thing when comparing the two is in the use of digitized sound. The ST is also capable of digitized sound but not as good as the stereo sound of the Amiga. The most interesting thing about digitized sound is that it is implemented to a greater degree on the Amiga then on the ST. The reason is due to the Amiga's use of a double sided drive rather than the single sided drive of the ST. This was in my opinion the biggest error Atari made. It forced the software developers to write their programs for a minimum system of one single sided drive system (No room for all those nice digitized sound files). Programs on the ST may require 3 disks where on the Amiga can fit on one. Just think what you can do on the Amiga with three disks worth of files. Although the ST does have double sided drives available for both the 520 and standard on the 1040 and Megas, very little of the commercial software is available in the double sided format. The bottom line is you have a tough decision and you should do a hands on evaluation. Both machines have their good points and bad points. Which ever are the most important to you are what counts. Don't believe the salesman, its hard to find one who actually knows much about both systems. Matt Hetman A Happy ST and Amiga Owner > *BOTH* good computers, you probably can't go wrong what ever you > choose. To be fair, I do not own an Amiga. I own 2 Commodors (the > VIC-20 & C64) am the happy owner of 1 Atari (the ST). >